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aN
JOSEPH HALIL,D.D.
SUCCESSIVELY BISHOPOF EXETER AND NORWICH.
London. Pib by L8. Sealey & Som, 09 Ta Strat, Jan 1 1828.
BISHOP HALL, HIS LIFE AND TIMES:
OR,
MEMOIRS OF
THE LIFE, WRITINGS, AND SUFFERINGS, OF
THE RIGHT REV. JOSEPH HALL, D.D.
SUCCESSIVELY BISHOP OF EXETER AND NORWICH;
WITH
A VIEW OF THE TIMES IN WHICH HE LIVED; —
"AND AN APPENDIX,
CONTAINING SOME OF HIS UNPUBLISHED WRITINGS,
HIS FUNERAL SERMON, &c.
BY THE REV. JOHN JONES,
PBRPETUAL CURATE OF CRADLEY, WORCESTERSHIRE.
PRINTED FOR L. B. SEELEY AND SON,
FLEET-STREET, LONDON.
MDCCCXXVI.
m
J. SEELEY,
Printer, Buckingham.
SS
e
'
E
BX5199
HasJe -
CONTENTS.
CHAP, I.
Importance of the biography of excellent characters. —** Obset-
vations of some Specialities of Divine Providence in the
Life of Joseph Hall, Bishop of Norwich, written with his
own hand." His father. Character of his mother. — Dedi:
cated from his infancy to the sacred mimistry. Some of the
most eminent Divines indebted to the early instructions of
their mothers. Fraternal affection of Mr. Jos. Hall’s
brother. Mr. Jos. Hall's admission at Emmanuel College,
' Cambridge. His eleetien into a scholarship, into a fellow-
ship, end into the Rhetorie-Professorship. His intense
study at the university. His piety. His relinquishing the
Rhetoric-Professorship. His theological studies. His ordi-
mation. Sis frequent preaching, .. .. Page 1-14.
CHAP. II.
Mr. Jos, Hall's whole residence at College. Hie presentation
to the rectory of Haletead. His previous appointment to
the mastership of Tiverton school. His rebuilding of Hal-
stead rectory. His marriage. His children. Aneedote
respecting his family. A person of the name of Lilly
opposes him. His journey abread with Sir E. Bacon,
Motive of thia journey. Account of his Travels, in a letter.
His return. His dissatisfaction with Halstead. His
preaching before Prince Hensy—is made one of his Chap-
lains. His intention ef removing from Halstead. His accep-
tance of the Liviag of Waltham Holy Cress. — His unwilling-
ness to leave Halstead. His taking his Doctor's degree :—
he was a principal instrument in' promoting the establish-
ment of the Charter House. His Apology against the
787
iv
CONTENTS.
Brownists—Account of that sect. His modest refusal of
P. Henry’s offers. His frequent preaching. His sermons.
Death of P. Henry. His character. Dr. Hall made Preben-
dary of Wolverhampton—recovers some emoluments belong-
ing to that church—resigns his prebend. His attendance
on the embassy to France. Is made: Dean of Worcester.
His return from France. Accompanies the King to Scot-
land. Prejudices against him. Five articles proposed
towards promoting uniformity in the kirk. Correspondence
of Mr. Struthers with Dr. Hall. The five articles published
in Scotland. His Majesty’s journey unsuccessful. The
king’s return. The Book of Sports. Remarks upon it.
Religious debates in Holland. Dr. Hall deputed as one of
the English Divines to go to the Synod of Dort. His
Majesty’s instructions to the English divines. — Some
account of the Synod, The oath taken in it. Godwin's
charges against the contra-remonstrants refuted. — Dr.
Halls Letter to Dr. Fuller. | Dr. Hall's return from the
Synod. His ill health. His latin speech on taking his
leave of the Synod. Public thanks given him. A gold
medal presented to him. His Latin Sermon before the
Synod. Quotation from. Results of the Synod. Opinions
of the British divines. The church of England troubled
with disputes. The king encourages Arminianism. Immo-
derate disputes between Arminians and Calvinists. His
Majesty restrains them. Doctrines of the church. Popery
increasing. Montague’s writings. Death of James I.
. Dr. Hall's remarks upon the growth of sects. Flattering
great personages fashionable in Dr. Hall's time. He is
guilty of this. Funeral sermon on Jamea I. Dr. Hall's
serinon, entitled, * Noah’s Dove, &c." in latin, translated
by Robert Hall, his son. — His preaching at the re-opening
of St. John’s Chapel, Clerkenwell. Parliament consider
Montague’s books. The church disturbed by the Belgic
. disputes. Dr. Hall's reflections on them. — His sentiments
moderate. His Via Media. The object of this treatise.
The doctrines of the church contained in it. Dr. Hall’s
. attempt of reconciling the points in dispute, .. p. 15-111.
CONTENTS. v
CHAP. III.
Dr. Hall’s refusal of the See of Gloucester. - His promotion to
that of Exeter. Misunderstood in his writings against the
church of Rome. Vindication of himself. His episcopal
function attacked. His advice to hisclergy. Recommends
catechizing. Spent much of his life in that exercise.
K. James’s opinion of catechizing. Bishop Hall suspected
of favouring Popery and Puritanism. Lectures set up in
market-towns suppressed. Breach between the King and
Puritans widening. Factious clergy in the diocese of
Exeter. Most of them restored to order. Bishop Hall
accused of encouraging lectures. His troubles on this
account. He, and others of his brethren, charged with
giving advantage to the disaffected. Laud promoting the
second edition of the Book of Sports. | A copy of it. The
ill effects of it. The hardship of imposing its publication
on theclergy. Many refused publishing it, —Sufferings of
the clergy on this account. Remarks on the character of
Charles I. Persons in authority'should promote the obser-
vance of the sabbath. The object of publishing the book
of sports. Bishop Hall did not encourage its publica-
tion. No mention of it in his works, Controversy
about the morality of the sabbath revived. The long
parliament insisted on the strict observance of the sabbath.
The Book of Sports burnt. Archbishop Laud leaning to
Popery. Communion tables ordered to be placed altarwise.
The consequent disputes and troubles. — Prynne's sentence
for writing his Histriomastiz. Bastwick and Burton sen-
tenced for their writings. Dr. Williams, Bishop of Lincoln,
imprisoned. Osbaldeston severely treated, . . p.112-151.
CHAP. IV.
Scottish Bishops nominal. Attempts of establishing episco-
pacy iu Scotland unsuccessful. Bishop Hall undertaking
to write in defence of **the Divine Right of Episcopacy."
Sketch of the work sent te Archbishop Laud. His Grace's
—— een lO -
vi
CONTENTS.
remarks and alterations. — Bishop Hall did not insist on the
reading of the Book of Sports. Testimony of Heylin.
Bishop Hall dedicated his Treatise on Episcopacy, to
Charles I. Was one of the most celebrated writers in
defence of the church. His exhortation for adhering to
Episcopacy. The peace of the church disturbed. Bag-
shaw’s attack on Episcopacy. Parliament meeting. Com-
mittees for religion and grievances, Subsidies to the King
not granted. Parliament dissolved. | Lambeth palace
attacked by a mob. Convocation. Subsidies to his
Majesty. Canons made. Fury of the mob, Irregularity
of the convocation. Substance of the new canons. Ex
Officio oath. Bishop Hall's opinion of it, War with the
Scots. Cessation of arms, os o. p. 152-186.
CHAP. VW.
Long parliament. Committees appointed. Petitions for
redress of grievances. Complaints against the canons and
their compilers. Resolutions of the house. More anger
and prejudice than law and reason. Charges against
Archbishop Laud,---he is impeached of high treason, and
committed to the Tower. Convocation dwindled away.
Mr. Warmistre’s motion against the late canons. Bishop
Williams released--resumes his seat in parliament---is trans-
lated to York. Prynne, Bastwick, and Burton remanded.
Evil designs against the church. Leighton and Osbaldeston
set at liberty. Dr. Cosins's sufferings. Petition against
Dr. Matt. Wren—he is voted unfit to hold ecclesiastical
preferments---is imprisoned. His sufferings. Complaints
against the bishops. Clamours against the clergy. — Lit-
urgy railed at. Petitions against the clergy.. Unfair ways
of getting up these petitions. Outrageous spirit of the
populace. Communion rails pulled down. — Surplice torn.
Liturgy abused, Sentence of parliament against these riots,
Factious preachers and lecturers. Commissioners to
demolish all orsaments, &c. in churches. — St. Paul’s cross,
and that in Cheapside, pulled down. Arbitrary power of the
CONTENTS. - vii
Commons. Some Puritans fools of parliament. Destruc-
tion of the church intended. Seditious pamphlets. Bishop
Hall’s remarks upon them. He laments the outrages against
the church. His speech ib parliament, ... p. 186-204.
CHAP. VI.
Bishop Hall, a champion in defence of the church. Publishes
his ** Humble Remoustrance" — Vindicates thé antiquity of
Liturgies. His controversy with Smectymnuus. '* Defence
of the Remonstrance.” His modération and christian
teipér. Terminates the conttoversy by. publishing '* A
Short Answer to the Tedious Vindication of Smectymnuus."
His sentiments respecting forms of prayers. Demolition of
the churth resolved. The Puritans assist its ruin. A warn-
ing to future ages. — Disingenuous ways of getting sigua- -
tures to petitions. Clarendon’s account of them, Mar-
— ghall's deception. Petitions against the church. Root and
Branch petition. Minister's petition. Petitions in favour of
the church. Apprentices’ petition. Speeches of Lords
Digby and Falkland. Bishop Hall's character described.
Substance of a petition in favor of the church. — Minister's
petition presented to the house, Resolutions of the Com-
mons, A bill to exclude ecclesiastics from civil employ-
ments, and Bishops from parliament. Sentiments of the
King upon it. The bill passed the Commons---thrown out of
the house of Lords. Principal speakers on behalf of the
— Bishops. Bishop Hall’s speech.on this occasion. Reso-
lute conduct of the Bishops, The bill for extirpating
Episcopacy. Sir E. Deering’s speech. Much opposition
" toit. Lord Clarendon’s dexterity. The bill dropped.
Debates about abolishing deans and chapters. Dr. Hack-
ett’s able defence of the cathedral clergy. Petitions of the
Universities. Resolutions of the Commons. Committee of
accommodation. Fuller’s account of it. Many Puritans
desirous of retaining Episcopacy. Error of Rapin. Scott's
commissioners voting Episcopacy contrary. to the word of
God. Rumour of the Army advancing to dissolve the
vili
CONTENTS.
parliamént, Proeeedings against Papists. — Protestation of
the Commons—refused by two Peers. Explanation of it.
Rejected by the Peers. Votes against the bishops and the
church. — Neal's remarks upon the protestation. The
changes since the commencement of this parliament. Earl
of Strafford's imprisonment and execution. The bill for not
dissolving parliament passed. The King's weakness. The
bills for abolishing the High Commission and the Star
Chamber passed, Account of the High Commission Court,
and that of the Star Chamber. Schemes to divide the
bishops. Thirteen bishops impeached. Their plea and
demurrer. Bishop Hall’s speech, .. .. p. 205-263.
CHAP. VII.
Debates about the church---more involved and intricate. Par-
liament sitting on Sunday. Declaration of parliament.
His Majesty's journey into Scotland. ^ Debate about the
book of Common Prayer. Resolutions of the Commons.
Opposed by the Peers. Unsettled state of religion. Dis-
affected lecturers. Dr. Walker's account of them. Neal’s
opinion of them. Recess of Parliament. “Bishop Hall
retires to Exeter---preaches in the Cathedral. Quotations
from his sermon. He pathetically laments the dissentions
in church and state. Scandalous means to render people
disaffected. False report of the King’s intention to intro-
. duce presbyterianism into England. The King’s letter.
Vacant dioceses filled. The commons much offended.
The most eminent men collated to the vacant sees. Bishop
Hall translated to Norwich. Invidious remarks of Neal.
The King inclined to promote the welfare of church and
state. Irish insurrection. Meeting of parliament after
recess, General remonstrance. His Majesty’s answer.
Commons dissatisfied. King’s declaration. Commons
disappointed at the impeached bishops’ demurrer---in despair
of getting their ends. Petitions against Episcopacy encou-
raged, Public prayers for the success of the Apprentices’
petition. Riots and tumults about the Parliament-house.
CONTENTS. ix
"The Bishops' houses threatened to be pulled down. — Arch-
bishop of York assaulted. The Bishops abused. Protes-
tation of the Bishops. Twelve of them accused of high
treason, and committed to the Tower. A mistake of Fuller
and Neal. Injustice of the Bishops’ imprisonment. The
bill for taking away the Bishops’ Votes before rejected---is
presented under another title---and passed. Bishop of
Rochester’s defence of the Bishops. Earl of Bedford’s
opposition to the bill. Petitions in favor of the Bishops.
Rejoicings in London at the passing of the bill. His
Majesty hesitating to sign it, is prevailed upon to do it.
Influence of the Queen. Sad consequences of passing this
bill. The King’s party weakened. The nine reasons of the
commons against the Bishops’ votes. Answered by Bishop
Hall. Harris’s remarks. His Majesty’s impeachment of
five members of the commons. Imprudent step. No hopes
of accommodation left. The royal standard hoisted at
Nottingham. The twelve imprisoned Bishops petition for
council —denied bail, Their trial postponed. Deprived of
their spiritual promotions. Their estates forfeited. Annual
allowance to the Bishops for life. They again petition to
be admitted to bail. They are released, but re-committed.
—at last set at liberty upon their bond. The protesting
Bishops alternately preached during their confinement in
the Tower. Bishop Hall’s tranquillity of mind in the Tower.
The Treatise *'* Free Prisoner," written in the Tower.
Quotation from it. Bishop Hall's Letter from the Tower.
A sermon of his preached in the Tower. When released, he
withdraws to Norwich. His reception there. He preaches
in the Cathedral. His frequent preaching, p. 254-338.
CHAP. VIII.
Open rupture between the King and Parliament. Parliament's
declaration for further reformation. Nineteen propositions,
His Majesty’s reply. Civil war begun. Reflections on the
state of things. The bill for extirpating Episcopacy.
Church government interrupted. Ordinance for calling the
assembly of divines, The royal prohibition of ft. Meeting
Xx: CONTENTS,
of the assembly. Episcopal divines fotsaking it, Assist-
ance of the Scots solicited. The solemn league anil cove-
nant. Royal proclamation against it, — Sufferings of the
Clergy. — Church concerms ‘managed by the ‘assembly.
Solemn ‘league and covenant imposed ón the University of
Cambridge. A number of Graduates banished. Swfferings
of the Clergy. Average number of sufferet's. . The ‘fifths.
‘Sufferings of the Bishops. Cathedrals and charches defaced
and devastated. Norwich Cathedral devastated. Presby-
terianism introdueed. Sects and parties arise. Licentious-
ness and Antinomianism brought in. Political principles of
the Puritans absurd. Presbyterianism advanced into a
divine tnstitution. Erastians. Independents. Interreg-
num in the church. Sects, parties, and heresies spring up.
Oversight in the reformers. Religious confusion and disor-
ders. Fanaticism. Bishop Hall’s account of the fanatics.
Their absurd and blasphemous opinions. Assembly of
divines provide a succession of ministers. Directory for
publíc worship. Common prayer books called in---prohi-
bited in private families. Severities of Presbyterian Unifor-
mity. Royal proclamation for the Common Prayer Book to
‘be continued to be used. Catastrophe of Archbishop Laud.
His character. —— His munificent actions. Treaty of
Uxbridge. Bishop Hall's * Modest Offer" to the assémbly
of divines. Presbyterians and Independents differ. His
Majesty’s affairs decline. His Majesty’s attachment to
the church. Delivers himself up to the Scots. Debates
between his Majesty and Mr. Henderson. Scots give up
his Majesty to the Parliament. England partitioned into
Presbyterian provinces. Military men preach. Enthusiasm
in the army. Neal’s account of the enthusiasts. Confu-
sion and disorder of church and state. Quotations from
Bishop Hall. He laments the deplorable state of things.
His Majesty confined in Holmby-house, .. p. 305-338.
CHAP. IX.
The Army, not disposed to sabmit to Presbyterianism, insist on
a toleration. — Persecoting spirit of the Presbyterians.
CONTENTS. mi
intention to secure the person of Cromwell. His escape.
The Army seige the person of his Mejesty. Army and
Parliament differ. Escape of the King. He is secured in
Carisbrook Castle. Publio trenquillity precarious. _Peti-
tion of the suffering clergy to his Majesty. The King's
reply. Their petition to the General. Their expectations
cut.off Petitton.to the Presbyterian ministers. University
of Oxford visited. Cruel ordinance of the ‘Presbyterians.
Insurrection im favor of the King. Second civil war.
Treaty of Newport. His Majesty's concessions. — His
Majesty's mind much distressed. The remonstraace of the
Army. Consternation of the Parliament. His Majesty
secured in Husst Castle. Presbyterian members excluded
from the ‘Pazliament-house. Impeachment of his Majesty.
Hip murder, |... .. .. .. .. .. p.889-98651.
CHAP. X.
House of Lords voted useless. Office of a king dangerous.
Onths of supremacy and allegiance abolished. The engage-
ment. The commonwealth. Independent interest prevails.
Sufferiegs of the Presbyterian ministers. Laxity of religious
puncipies. Bishop Hall's remarks upen divisions in reli-
gion. One hundred and eighty dangerous and blasphemous
opinions new held. General confusion in religion. State
of religion described. Quotation from Wilks’ ** Christian
Essays.” Engagement taken. Milton employed as a
writer on the side of the commonwealth. Dean and
Chapters’ inad ordered to be sold. -Salanies of incumbents
to be augmented. Public press under the direction of
Parliament. Sufferings of the Clergy of remote parts of
the kingdom. Propagation of the gospel in Wales. Origin
of the Quakers. George Fox. — Charles II. crowned in
Scotland---defeated at Worcester. Cromwell turning the
Parliament out of doors. — Barebone's parktament. Their
ludicrous pyoceediags. They dissolvethemselves. Supreme
power vested in Cromwell. He is made Protector. Instru-
ment of Government. Toleration of all sects and heresies.
Gerae of the episcopal elergy connived at. Two of Bishop
xii CONTENTS.
Hall’s sons, sind others. Some of the Bishops allowed to
preach. Bishop Kennet's testimony in favor of Cromwelk
. Parliament called. Debates of the Commons offensive to
Cromwell. A recognition forced on them. — Declension of
Presbyterianism. — Approbation of public ministers. Pre-
vention of the sequestered clergy to get into livings. — Par-
tiality of the commissioners. Ordinance to humble the
clergy. Deplorable state of the church. Measures to crush
the loyal clergy. Extreme severities against them. Com-
pelled to remonstrate to Cromwell. Archbishop Usher's
intercession on behalf of the suffering.clerg . Interview
-between Cromwell and Archbishop Usher. The Primate’s
grief at not succeeding. Corporation for the sons of the
clergy. Origin of. Rev. George Hall, the bishop’s son,
. preached the first sermon before the Corporation, — Quota-
tion from the sermon, co c oe «ee p. 352-385.
CHAP. XI.
Bishop Hall’s “‘ Hard Measure,”-enjoyed but a short respite as
Bishop of Norwich. Ordinance for sequestering the estates
of notorious delinquents--among whom, Bishop Hall is
enumerated... Cruelty of this ordinance. Sufferings. of
Bishop Hall. Lenient measures towards him and others.
Negative oath. Bishop Hell ejected out of his palace.
Mrs. Hall offering to pay the rent out of the fifths. He
retires to Heigham. The Bishop’s house still existing. He
spent his retirement in doing good. His readiness to preach
Án the churches of Norwich. He was a diligent hearer as
well as.a preacher. Extract from a sermon preached by
him in his eightieth year. His last years spent in devotion
and meditation. His charitable acts. His patience during
his last illness. His submission to the divine will. He
was afflicted with the stone and strangury—-foretold the
-night of his death. His legacies. Remarkable monition in
.his will. .Mistake of his being buried in Heigham church-
yard. His dislike of burials in churches. His sermon at
Exeter. .Buried in the chancel of Heigham church. — His
Tombstone. Inscription. Removal of his Tombstone.
CONTENTS. xiii
His mural monument. Inscription. Mrs. Hall's death.
Mr. J. Hall, the Bishop's son, buried. ‘Tombstones of Mrs.
Hall and son. Bishop Hall's ** Songs in the Night," occa-
sioned by Mrs. Hall's death. Quotations from them,
p. 386—424.
CHAP. XII.
A VIEW OF THE CHARACTER OF BisHoP HALL, AND OF
HIS WRITINGS. His character described. His character
by Richardson. Quotation from Godwin's De Presulibus.
Bishop Hall, a child of Providence. Owed his preferments
to merit. ‘Letters dedicatory. His grateful sense of kind-
nesses. His piety. Fondness ofstudy. Manner of study.
His letter to Lord Denny. Mode of spending the sabbath.
Mildness of disposition. His usual signature. His activity
and vigilance. His constancy and fortitude. A saying of
Fuller. He wrote valuable Treatises in his old age. His
time well employed. He was a wit and a poet. His
satires. Gray’s and Warton’s character of them. His
intended version of the Psalms. His prose works. He was
called the English Seneca. The English Chrysostom. His
character as a writer. Fuller's character of him. His
practical works. His contemplations. Substance of ser-
mons. Testimonies of Hervey and Dr. Doddridge. Cha-
racter of his Paraphrase on Scripture, by Dr. Doddridge.
‘Mant’s and D’Oyly’s Commentary, much indebted to Bishop
Hall's writings--also Scott's Commentary. Bishop Hall’s
character as a preacher. His sentiments evangelical. His
‘meditations. .His son Robert's account: of them. His own
account of them. His devotional writings. His Epistles.
His Polemical writings. Treatises in Latin. His works
first collected. Pratt's Edition. Sterne's plagiarisms,
p. 425-448.
*
CHAP. XIII.
Ow PuniTANiSM. Sketch of the history of Puritanism.
Reformers. First Separatists. — Fuller's account of the
origin of the Puritans, Puritans not necessarily non-con-
xiv CONTENTS.
feymists. A‘térm of reproacli. Puritans mot all dissenters.
“Prominent trait in their character. Many of them great
sufferers. Many of bad principles. Emineat Puritans with
the Pashament. Many not less eminent with the King.
Ail Payitans not really pious. Their failings. Their rigid
behaviour. Their piety and devotion. Characteristics of
a Puritan. Many of them faithful friends to the church.
Paritanism productiva of much good. Reformation of.
manrers. Games and plays suppressed. Sabbath day
strictly observed. State of religion during the long parlia-
ment. The grand rebellion aud usurpation. Bishop Hall and
others of his brethren reckoned Puritans. Evangelical and
Methodist now terms of reproach, .. .. p. 449—468.
APPEN DI X.
Unpublished Letters to Archbishop Usher and others,
E | p. 461—474.
Latin Sermon, preached by Bishop Hall, before the Synod of
Dort, oe ee:' ee ee ee ee oo ee p. 475. .
Dr. Alibene's Satirical Latin Verses.on the Visitation of Oxford
by the Antüoyalists, os se co c^. eS p.498.
DEATWS' ‘ALARM, a Funeral Sermon on tlie Right Reverend.
Joseph Hall, D.5. Bishop of Norwieh, by J. Whitefoot, M.A.
p. 501.
Epitaph en: the Monument of Mr. H. Bright, in Worcester
Cathedral, composed by Bishop Hall, — .. .. ps 666.
Angelus e Colo ad Angelum Ecclesi: N. ad Colum transeuntem,
p. 007.
Upon the much-lamented Death of the Rev. Father Joseph, late
Lord Bishop of Norwich, oe ce o. S. ope 569.
In Obitum amplissimi Patris J. H. Episcopi Norvicensis,
' p. 572.
Recommendatory Verses composed by Bishop Hall, and pre-
fixed to Silvester's translation of Du Bartas, . . p. 574.
PREFACE.
THE Author oí. this velume has endeavoured, as; well: as
be could, to acquaint himself, with: much labowr amd
research, with. the hissory-of those aventful:imes in which
the celebrated Bishop Hall lived, with the view of giving
a. fall aceonnt ef the. hfe andi sufferiags of one of the mest
worthy of the sons of the Church of. England, and a narrative
of the prineipel events and.transactions of that, pextod. . The
aim of the. auther haa been to. give an impartial account. of
those times; but he found it often a very difficult. matter
to. discriminate the twth among. a mass: of comfased: and
contradictory account of wsitem biassed amd infleencod. by
prejudice, faotion,.or party spirit:
The author is for from. vindicating the arbitrary pewer
and the violent measnnes employed and adopéed by the
rulers of church and state, to promete their welagieus or
seeulan ends. in those times; and he is bold also to. affirm,
that the persecuting, violent, and unchristian conduct, and
evil, practiees..of..sonre: ef those called Puritans, of the
Presbyterians and Independents, when they got the power
in their own hands, have left upon them such an indelible
stigma, as will never be forgotten.
Bishop Hall has left us a brief account of kis own life
and sufferings; but because of his great modesty, he
has touched but stightly on some most interesting inci-
dents; the author has therefore endeavoured, from other
authentic sources, to give, in the following Memoirs, a
more copious detail; leaving, however, the good old
Bishop, as much as possible, to be his own biographer.
His life, which was long and useful, is replete with impor-
xvi PREFACE.
tant incidents, which will always prove interesting and
instructive to all future generations.
In every period of the Christian Church, there have
been some eminent characters endued with primitive sim-
plicity and genuine excellence ; among these we may most
justly class the good, the pious, and the learned subject of
the following Memoirs. His devotedness to the service of his
divine Master, bis great humility and patience under all his
sufferings, were distinguishing traits in his character. The
character given us of St. Augustin, may, with the greatest
propriety, be applied to Bishop Hall: Insignis erat sanc-
tissimi praesulis mansuetudo, ac miranda animi lenitas,
et quedam invincibilis clementia.
n the Appendix to this volume there will be found
some unpublished pieces of Bishop Hall, particularly his
Letters to Archbishop Usher and others, and his Latin
Sermon before the Synod of Dort; which, it is hoped,
will prove very acceptable to all who possess the last edition
of his Works. Whitefoots Funeral Sermon, inserted in
the Appendix, is also not only of rare occurrence, but is
highly valuable and interesting, as containing some striking
particulars in the life of the Bishop.
The author earnestly hopes that this volume may prove
a profitable addition to the large mass of biography of
good and excellent personages already before the public,
as well as instructive and edifying to every Christian
reader; and it is his sincere prayer that all the sons of the.
Church may imitate the example of Bishop Hall, —follow
htm as he followed Christ,—live above this vain and
troublesome world,—bear with patience all the trials and
sufferings of this mortal life,—and continually ** mind
eternity.” *
Cradley, Worcestershire,
Oct. 4, 1825.
* See Inscriptions on Bishop Hall’s Menument, and of Mrs. Hall,
pp: 419, 420.
BISHOP HALL,
HIS LIFE AND TIMES.
queseneentiiie
CHAPTER I.
I F the memory of the wise, the pious, and
the good is blessed, and should be preserved
and illustrated for the advantage and improve-
ment of future ages; the name of JosEPpH Hatt,
successively Bishop of Exeter and Norwich,
ought undoubtedly to be held ir perpetual
remembrance. Few, if any, of the fathers of the
‘Church of England, have left behind them more
lasting or exemplary proofs of learning, piety,
and unwearied labours in the cause of truth. The
purity of his life, the fervor of his charity, and the
variety and importance of his theological writings,
have ranked him among the brightest ornaments
of the church. He was indeed a star of the first
magnitude, alike admirable and eminent as an
author, as an advocate of the church, and as a
christian pastor and bishop of primitive simplicity
and piety. | |
M. B
9 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
As Bishop Hall has left a brief account of his
life, under the title of ‘“ Observations of some
Specialities of Divine Providence in the Life of
Joseph Hall, Bishop of Norwich, written with.
his own hand,” it appears advisable to adopt the.
whole of this narrative into the present Memoir,
only pausing occasionally to introduce such other
incidents and details as other and equally authen-
tic accounts may furnish.
The Bishop thus commences the Memoirs of
himself.
* NOT out of a vain affectation of my own
glory, which I know how little it can avail me
when I am gone hence; but out of a sincere desire
to give glory to my God, whose wonderful provi-
dence I have noted in all my ways, have I
' recorded some remarkable passage of my fore-
past life. What I have done is worthy of nothing
but silence and forgetfulness; but what God hath
done for me, is worthy of everlasting and thank-
ful memory.
** [ was born July 1, 1574, at five of the clock in
the morning, in Bristow-Park, within the parish
of Ashby de la Zouch, a town in Leicestershire,
of honest and well-allowed parentage.
* My father was an officer under that truly
honorable and religious Henry Earl of Hunting-
don, President of the North; and, under him,
HIS YOUTH AND EDUCATION. 3
had the government of that market-town, wherein
the chief seat of that earldom is placed.
*« My mother Winifride, of the house of the Bam-
bridges, was a woman of that rare sanctity, that,
were it not for my interest in nature, I durst say,
that neither Aleth the mother of that just Honor of
Clareva], nor Monica, nor any other of those pious
matrons anciently famous for devotion, need to
disdain her admittance to comparison. She was
continually exercised with the afflictions of a
weak body, and oft of a wounded spirit: the
agonies whereof, as she would oft recount with
much passion, professing that the greatest bodily
— Sicknesses were but flea-bites to those scorpions ;
so, from them all, at last she found a happy and
comfortable deliverance. _ And that, not without
a more than ordinary hand of God: for, on a time,
being in great distress of conscience, she thought
in her dream, there stood by her a grave personage,
in the gown and other habits of a physician; who,
inquiring of her estate, and receiving a sad and
querulous answer from her, took her by the hand,
and bade her be of good comfort, for this should
be the last fit that ever she should feel of this
kind; whereto she seemed to answer, that, on
that condition, she could well be content for the
time, with that or any other torment; reply was
made to her, as she thought, with a redoubled
assurance of that happy issue of this her last trial ;
B2
4 — LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
whereat she began to conceive an unspeakable
joy; which yet, on her awaking, left her more
disconsolate, as then conceiting her happiness -
imaginary, her misery real; when, the very same
day, she was visited by the reverend and (in his
time) famous divine, Mr. Anthony Gilby,* under
whose ministry she lived ; who, upon the relation
of this her pleasing vision and the contrary effects
it had in her, began to persuade her, that dream
was no other than divine, and that she had good
reason to think that gracious premonition was
sent her from God himself: who, though ordinarily
he keeps the common road of his proceedings,
yet, sometimes, in the distresses of his servants,
he goes unusual ways to their relief: hereupon she
began to take heart; and, by good counsel and
her fervent prayers, found that happy prediction
verified to her; and, upon all occasions ‘in the
remainder of her life, was ready to magnify the
mercy of her God in so sensible a deliverance.
What with the trial of both these hands of God,
so had she profited in the school of Christ, that it
was hard for any friend to come from her discourse
no whit holier. How often have I blessed the
memory of those divine passages of experimental
* He was a pious and zealous Non-conformist ; and was pro-
foundly learned in the Latin, Greek, and Hebrew languages.
He was patronized by the Earl of Huntingdon, and was pre-
sented to the Vicarage of Ashby de la Zouch.
"A
HIS YOUTH AND EDUCATION. 9
divinity, which I have heard from her mouth!
What day did she pass, without a large task of
private devotion? whence she would still come
forth, with a countenance of undissembled mor-
tification. Never any lips have read to me such
feeling lectures of piety: neither have I known
any soul that more accurately practised them
thanherown. Temptations, desertions, and spiri-
tual comforts, were her usual theme. Shortly,
for I can hardly take off my pen from so exemplary
a subject, her life and death were saint-like.*
* My parents had, from mine infancy, devoted
me to this sacred calling, whereto, by the blessing
of God, I have seasonably attained. For this
cause, I was trained up in the public school of
the place. —— | |
* After I had spent some years, not altogether
* It is singular and remarkable that many of those divines,
who have proved most eminent for their piety and usefulness,
have, in a particular manner, experienced tlie benefit of parental
instruction ; and especially have imbibed religious principles
from the piety and example of their mothers. Dr. Doddridge,
before he was able to read, was instructed by his mother, in the
histories of the Old and New Testament, by the assistance of
some dutch tiles in the chimney of the room, where they usually
sat. Thenames of Augustin, Hooker, Newton, Cecil, Buchanan,
and Dwight, are here enumerated as instances of the happy and
blessed effects of parental instruction in religion. ‘This should
encourage parents to bring up their children in the nurture and
admonition of the Lord. Though the instructions and pious
examples of parents may not always seem to have immediate
effect upon their children; yet the means should be used, and
the most untoward may, through the divine blessing, be brought
. to the knowledge of the truth: for this is a course which has.
been so often crowned with success, and which is seldom oc
6 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
indiligently, under the ferule of such masters as
the place afforded, and had near attained to some
competent ripeness for the university, my school-
master being a great admirer of one Mr. Pelset,
who was then lately come from Cambridge to be
the public preacher of Leicester (a man very emi-
nent in those times, for the fame of his learning,
but especially for his sacred oratory), persuaded
my father, that if I might have my education
under so excellent and complete a divine, it might
be both a nearer and easier way to his purposed
end, than by an academical institution. The
motion sounded well in my father’s ears, and
carried fair probabilities: neither was it other
than fore-compacted betwixt my schoolmaster
and Mr. Pelset; so as, on both sides, it. was
entertained with great forwardness.
‘¢ The gentleman, upon essay taken of my fitness
for the use of his studies, undertakes within one
seven years to send me forth, no less furnished
with arts, languages, and grounds of theoretical
never perhaps aftogether in vain. ‘It is evident, that the pious
endeavours of Lois and Eunice, in bringing young Timothy
acquainted with the Holy Scriptures, laid the foundation of all
his subsequent eminence and usefulness, in which he was infe-
rior to none but the Apostles, It is probable, that, while they
were teaching the child to read, and treasure up in his memory
the oracles of God, they little thought what a harvest, in future
life, would spring from the seed thus sown. But tle Scripture
warrants high expectations in this respect." See Memoir of
Rev. Jeremiah Newell, annexed to his Funeral Sermon, by the
late Rev. 'Thomas Scott.
HIS YOUTH AND EDUCATION. 7
divinity, than the carefullest tutor in the strictest
college of either university. Which that he
might assuredly perform, to prevent the danger
of any mutable thoughts in my parents or myself,
he desired mutual bonds to be drawn betwixt us.
The great charge of my father, whom it pleased
God to bless with twelve children, made him the
more apt to yield to so likely a project for a
younger son. |
“There and now were all the hopes of my future
life on blasting. The indentures were preparing:
the time was set: my suits were addressed for
the journey.
* What was the issue? O God, thy providence
made and found it. Thou knowest how sincerely
and heartily, in those my young years,* I did cast
myself on thy hands: with what faithful resolu-
tion IE did, in this particular occasion, resign
myself over to thy disposition; earnestly begging
of thee in my.fervent prayers to order all things .
to the best, and confidently waiting upon thy
will for the event. Certainly, never did I, in all
my life, more clearly rol] myself upon the Divine
Providenee, than I did in this business. And it
succeeded accordingly.
** [t fell out in this time that my elder brother,
having some occasions to journey unto Cambridge,
* Anno tetatis 15.
8 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
was kindly entertained there by Mr. Nath. Gilby,
fellow of Emanuel college: who, for that he was
born in the same town with:me, and had conceived
some good opinion of my aptness to learning, in-
quired diligently concerning me; and hearing of
the diversion of my father’s purposes from the
university, importunately dissuaded from that new
course, professing to pity the loss of so good hopes.
My brother, partly moved with his words, and
partly won by his own eyes, to a great love and
. reverence of an academical life, returning home,
fell on his knees to my father ; and, after the report.
of Mr. Gilby’s words and his own admiration of.
the place, earnestly besought him, that he- would
be pleased to alter that so prejudicial a resolution,
that he would not suffer my hopes to be drowned
in a shallow country channel; but that he would.
revive his first purposes for Cambridge; adding,
in the zeal of his love, that if the chargeableness.
of that course were the hinderance, he did there
humbly beseech him rather to sell some part of
that land, which himself should in course of nature
inherit, than to abridge me of that happy means
to perfect my education. No sooner had he
spoken those words, than my father no less pas-
sionately condescended ; not without a vehement
protestation, that, whatsoever it might cost him, I
should, God willing, be sent to the university.
Neither were those words sooner out of his lips,
HIS YOUTH AND. EDUCATION. 9
than there. was a messenger from Mr. Pelset
knocking at the door, to call me to that ‘fairer
bondage; signifying, that the next day he expected '
me, with a full dispatch. of all that business: to
whom my father replied, that he came some
minutes too late, that he had now otherwise
determined of me; and, with a respective mes-
sage of thanks to the master, sent the man home
empty, leaving me full of the tears of joy for so
happy a change.
** Indeed I had been but lost, if that project
had succeeded ; as it well appeared in the experi-
ence of him who-succeeded' in that room, which
was by me thus unexpectedly forsaken.
* O God, how’ was I then taken up with a
thankful acknowledgment and joyful admiration
of thy gracious providence over me!
** And now I lived in the expectation of Cam-
bridge ; whither, ere long, I happily came, under
Mr. Gilby’s tuition, together with my worthy
friend Mr. Hugh Cholmley, who, as we had been
^ partners of one lesson from our cradles, so were
we now for many years partners of one bed.*
* My two first years were necessarily charge-
able above the proportion of my father's power;
whose not very large cistern was to feed many
pipes besides mine. His weariness of expense
* See Bishop Hall's Works, vol, ix, p 383.
10 . LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
was wrought upon by the counsel of some unwise
friends, who persuaded bim to fasten me upon that
school as master, whereof I was lately a scholar.
«* Now was I fetched home with a heavy heart :
..and now, this second time, had mine hopes been
nipped in the blossom, had not God raised me
up an unhoped benefactor, Mr. Edmund Sleigh
of Derby, (whose pious memory I have cause
ever to love and reverence), out of no other
relation to me, save that he married my aunt.
Pitying my too apparent dejectedness, he volun-
tarily urged and solicited my father for my retum
to the university ; and offered freely to contnbute
the one half of my maintenance there, till I should
attain to the degree of master of arts; which he
no less really and lovingly performed. The con-
dition was gladly accepted.
.- *'Thither was I sent back, with joy enough;
and, ere long, chosen scholar of that strict and
well-ordered college.
* By that time J had spent six x years there, now
the third year of my bachelorship should at once
both make an end of my maintenance, and in
respect of standing give me a capacity of further
preferment in that house, were it not that my
country excluded me: for our statute allowed
but one of a shire to be fellow there; and, my
tutor being of the same town with me, must there-
fore necessarily bold me out.
HIS YOUTH AND EDUCATION. 1l
* But, O my God, how strangely did thy gra-
cious providence fetch this business about! I was
now entertainmg motions of remove.
** A place was offered mein the island of Guern-
sey, which I had in speech and chase. It fell
out, that the father of my loving chamberfellow,
Mr. Cholmley, a gentleman that had likewise
dependence upon the most noble Henry Earl of
Huntingdon, having occasion to go to York, unto
that his honorable lord, fell into some mention of
me, That good Earl, who well esteemed my
father’s service, having belikely heard some better
words of me than I could deserve, made earnest
inquiry after me, what were my courses, what
my hopes: atid, hearing of the likelihood of my
removal, professed much dislike of it; not with-
out some vehemence, demanding why 1 was not
chosen feliow of that college, wherein by report I
received such approbation. Answer was returned,
that my country debarred me ; which, being filled
with my tutor, whom his Lordship well knew,
could not by the statute admit a second. The
Earl presently replied, that, if that were the
hinderance, he would soon take order to remove
it. Wherespon his Lordship presently sends for
my tutor Mr. Gilby unto York ; and, with profer
of large conditions of the chaplainship in his house,
and assured promises of better provisions, drew
him to relinquish his place in the college to a free
election. No sooner was his assent signified,
12 LIFE OF BISHOP HALLE.
than the days were set for the public (and indeed
exquisite) examination of the competitors. By
that time two days of the three allotted to this
trial were past, certain news came to us of the
inexpected death of that incomparably religious
and noble Earl of Huntingdon; by whose loss my
then disappointed tutor must necessarily be left
to the wide world unprovided for. Upon notice -
thereof, I presently repaired to the master of the
college, Mr. Dr. Chaderton ;* and besought him
to tender that hard condition to which my good
tutor must needs be driven, if the election
proceeded ; to. stay any further progress in that
business; and to leave me to my own good hopes
wheresoever, whose youth exposed me both to less
needs, and more opportunities of provision.
Answer was made me, that the place was pro-
nounced void however; and, therefore, that my
tutor was divested of all possibility of remedy,
and must wait upon the providence of God for his
disposing elsewhere, and the election must neces-
sarily proceed the day following. Then was I,
with a cheerful unanimity, chosen into that
society ; which if it had any equals, I dare say
had none beyond it, for good order, studious
carriage, strict government, austere piety: in
* He was the first Master of Emanuel College; was for
many years Lecturer at St. Clement's in Cambridge, with great
profit to his auditors; aud was one of the translators of the
Bible.
HIS YOUTH AND EDUCATION, 13
which I spent six or seven years more, with such
contentment, as the rest of ‘my life hath in vain
striven to yield.
* Now was I called to public disputations often,
with no ill success: for never durst I appear in
eny of those exercises of scholarship, till I had
from my knees looked up to heaven for a bles-
sing, and renewed my actual ‘dependence ‘upon
that divine hand. |
“In this while,:two years together was I chosen
to the rhetoric lecture in the public schools;
where I was encouraged with a sufficient frequence
of auditors: but, finding that well-applauded
‘work somewhat out of my way, not without a
secret. blame of myself for so much excursion, I
fairly gave up that task, “in ‘the midst of those
poor .acclamations, to a worthy successor, ‘Mr.
Dr. Dod; and ‘betook myself to those ‘serious
studies, which might fit me for that'high calling
whereunto I was destined.* "
During his residence in the University, he stu-
‘died so intensely, that it ‘appears from a letter of
'* Fuller says in'his ** Worthies of England,” that ** he passed
all his degrees with great applause. First, noted in the Univer-
‘sity, for his ingenious maintaining (be it Truth, or Paradoz,)
‘that Mundus senescit, ** The world groweth old." Yet, in
‘some sort, his position confuteth his position, the wit and
quickness whereof did argue an increase rather than a decay of
parts in this latter age."
14 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
his. to Mr. Hugh Cholmley, whe had been his
school-fellow, and was alse his intimate friend in
the same college, his friends were dissuading him '
from immoderate study. “ I have," says he, “a
body, that controls me enough in these courses;
my friends need not. There is nothing whereof
I could sooner surfeit, if I durst neglect my body,
to satisfy my mind: but, while I affect know.
ledge, my weakness checks me, and says,
* Better a little learning, than no health. Iyield,
and patiently abide myself debarred of my chosen
felicity."
** Wherein” (he continues his narrative) “ after
I had carefully bestowed myself for a time, J took
the boldness to enter into sacred orders: the
honor whereof haying once attained, I was no
niggard of that talent which my God had intrusted
to me; preaching often, as occasion was offered,
both in country villages abroad, and at home in
the most awful auditory of the university.
* And now I did but wait where and how it
would please my God to employ me.” * |
* He had resided at College, in the whole, about thirteen
years. He was presented to Halsted in the year 1601.
CHAPTER II.
THE Bishop continues his narrative—“ There
was at that time a famous school erected at
Tiverton in Devon, and endowed with a very
large pension; whose goodly fabric was answerable
to the reported maintenance: the care whereof
-was, by the rich and bountiful founder, Mr. Blun-
del,* cast principally on the then Lord Chief
Justice Popham. That faithful observer, having
great interest in the master of our house, Dr.
Chaderton, moved him earnestly to commend
some able, learned, and discreet governor to that
weighty charge; whose action should not need to
be so much as his oversight. It pleased our
master, out of his good opinion, to tender this
* Peter Blundel, a native and clothier of that town; founded
and endowed this school, which is a great ornament to the
place. He appointed a feast to be kept annually on St. Peter's
day in commemoration of him, for which he left a liberal
^ aHowamce. He also founded two fellowships and two scholar-
ships in Sidney College, Cambridge, and one fellowship and two
scholarships in Baliol College, Oxford, for the scholars educated
ia this scheol.
16 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL,
condition unto me: assuring me of no small
advantages, and no great toil; since it was
intended the main load of the work should lie upon
other shoulders. IL apprehended the motion worth
the entertaining. In that severe society our times
were stinted: neither was it wise or safe to refuse
good offers. Mr. Dr. Chaderton carried me to
London; and there presented me to the Lord
‘Chief Justice, with :much testimony of approba-
‘tion. The Judge seemed well apaid with the
‘choice. I promised acceptance; he, the strength
. ‘of his favor. . No sooner had I parted from the.
Judge, than, in the street, a messenger presented
me with a letter, from ‘the right virtuous ‘and
"worthy ‘lady, of dear and happy memory, the
‘Lady Drury of Suffolk, tendering the rectory of
her Halsted, then newly void, and very earnestly
desiring me to accept of it. ‘Dr. Chaderton,
observmg in me some change of countenance,
‘asked me what the matter might be. I told him
‘the errand, and delivered him the letter ; beseech-
ing his advice: which when he had read, ‘Sir,
quoth I, * methinks God pulls me by the sleeve;
and tells me it is his will, I should rather go to the
east than to the west.’ * Nay,’ he answered, ‘I
. Should rather think that God would have you go
westward, for that he hath contrived your engage-
ment before the tender of this letter ; which there-
fore coming too late, may receive a fair and easy
ENTRANCE ON THE. MINISTRY. ' 17
answer.”. To this I besought him to pardon my
dissent ; adding, that I well knew, that divinity
was the end whereto I was destined by my
parents; which I had so constantly proposed to
myself, that I never meant other, than to pass
through this western school to it: but I saw that
God who found me ready to go the further way
about, now called me the nearest and directest
way to that sacred end. The good man could no
further oppose; but only pleaded the distaste
which would hereupon be justly taken by the Lord
Chief Justice, whom I undertook fully to satisfy :
which I did with no great difficulty; commending
to his Lordship, in my room, my old friend and
chamber-fellow Mr. Cholmley: who finding an
answerable acceptance, disposed himself to the
place; so as we two, who came together to the
university, now must leave it at once.*
* See Sir John Cullum’s History of the parishes of Hawsted
and Hardwick, second edition, p.68, in the list of Rectors,
* 2 Dec. 1601. Joseph Hall, A. M. ad pres Rob. Drury, mil.”
Sir Robert Drury was the son of Sir William Drury, who was
in 1589 killed in a duel in France: ‘even before he was out
of mourning for his father, he attended the Earl of Essex to
the unsuccessful siege of Rohan, in 1591, where he was
knighted, when he could not exceed the age of fourteen years."
Sir J. Cullum's History of Hawsted and Hardwick, pp. 168, 170.
The family of Drury, which signifies in old English, a precious
Jewel, has been of great reputation at Halsted and elsewhere,
more especially since they were married with the heiress of
Fresil of Sexham.—See Camden's Britannia, p. 370. Ed. 1695.
C
18 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL,
‘ Having then fixed my foot at Halsted, I found
there a danger opposite to the success of my
ministry, a witty and bold atheist, one Mr. Lilly ;*
who by reason of his travails, and abilities of
* Probably this Mr. Lilly was Jobn Lilly, a dramatic writer,
born in Kept in 1553. At sixteen years of age, he became @
member of Magdalen College, Oxford; in 1573 he took the
degree of Bachelor, and that of Master of Arts in 1575-6. He
seems afterwards to have travelled; he published a celebrated
work, entitled ** Euphues, or, the Anatomy of Wit." It is
ascertained by his verses prefixed to a book entitled “ Christian
Passions," by H. Lok, published in 1597, that Lilly was then
living. The exact time of his death is net known, butit probably
happened soon after the year 1600. No particulars of his
person, or private life, have come down to us, except that he
was married; that be was a little man, and a great taker of
tobacco. His dramatic writings abound with perpetual allu-
sions to a kind of fabulous natural history, in which he, and
some of bis contemporaries frequently indulged themselves, and
for which he has been justly censured by Drayton and others.
** Lilly, when at Oxford, was so much distinguisbed for his wit
and vivacity, that one of his adversaries endeavoured to depre-
ciate bim on this ground, as if his spriteliness and humour were
greater than became a scholar." .
It is therefore highly probable that this Lilly was the identical
adversary of Hall; his abilities of discourse, his wit, ** his fabulous
natural history," and perhaps other profane writings, might
give occasion to Hall to call him.‘ a witty and bold atheist.”
The want of a knowledge of his fate bespeaks him the same
person ; Hall in his ** account of himself," says, ** this malicious
man going hastily up to London to exasperate my patron against
me, was thei and there swept away by the pestilence, and never
returned to do any farther mischief.” His being patronized
by Sir R. Drury, the patroa of poets and wits, is another strong
_ circumstance to identify him as the very person mentioned by
Hall. The learned and witty: Dr. Donne was patronized by
him ; to whom and his family, apartments were assigned in Sir R.
Drury’s large house in Drury Lane. See Sir J. Cullum's History
of Hawsted, p. 170.
AT HALSTED. 19
discourse and behaviour, had so deeply insinuated
himself into my patron, Sir Robert Drury, that
there was small hopes, during his entireness, for
me to work any good upon that noble patron
of mine; who, by the suggestion of this wicked
detractor, was set off from me before he knew me.
Hereupon, 1 confess, finding the obduredness and
hopeless condition of that man I bent my prayers
against him; beseeching God daily, that he would
be pleased to remove, by some means or other,
that apparent hinderance of my faithful labors:
who gave me an answer accordingly; for this
malicious man, going hastily up to London to
exasperate my patron against me, was then and
there swept away by the pestilence, and never
returned to do any farther mischief. Now the .
coast was clear before me; and | gained every
day of the good opinion and favourable respects
of that honourable gentleman and my worthy
neighbors.
* Being now therefore settled in that sweet and
civil country ef Suffolk, near to St, Edmund's-
Bury, my first work was to build up my house,
which was then extremely ruinous.
* Which done, the uncouth solitariness of my
life, and the extreme incommodity of that single
housekeeping, drew my thoughts, after two years,
to condescend to the necessity of a niarried
estate, which God no less strangely provided for
C 2
20 : LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
me; for, walking from the church on Monday in
the Whitsun-week, with a grave and reverend
minister, Mr. Grandidge, I saw a comely and
modest gentlewoman standing at the door of
that house where we were invited to a wedding-
dinner; and, inquiring of that worthy friend
whether he knew her, ‘ Yes,’ quoth he, * I know
her well, and have bespoken her for your wife.’
- When I further demanded an account of that
answer, he told me she was the daughter of a
gentleman whom he much respected, Mr. George
Winniff of Bretenham ; that, out of an opinion
had of the fitness of that match for me, he had
already treated with her father about it, whom he
found very apt to entertain it; advising me not to
neglect the opportunity, and not concealing the
just praises of the modesty, piety, good disposi-
tion, and other virtues, that were lodged in that
seemly presence. I listened to the motion, as
sent from God ; and, at last, upon due prosecu-
tion, happily prevailed; enjoying the comfortable
society of that meet help for the space of forty-
nine years."
Bishop Hall had many children; his eldest
son Robert was christened at Halsted, 26th
Dec. 1605, and was educated at Exeter College,
Oxford. March 4, 1628, he was collated to a
prebend in the Cathedral of Exeter, was Rector
HIS FAMILY. 21
of Stokemtinny, Devon, which he resigned, and
to which his brother, Samuel Hall, succeeded.
He was a great sufferer in the time.of the usurpa-
tion, büt at the restoration, he was repossessed of
his preferments. He was a learned man, a con-
stant preacher, and very hospitable and pious.
The other son, the Rev. Samuel Hall, towards the
end of the year 1640, was a prebendary of
Exeter, he suffered during the usurpation, and
died in the year 1674. Another of his sons was
the Rev. George Hall, born at Waltham in Essex,
when his father was the incumbent there; he was
educated at Exeter College, Oxford, of which he
‘became a fellow, and to which he was a consider-
able benefactor at his death. Dec. 23, 1639, he
was made prebendary of Exeter, and Oct. 8, 1641, '
was made Archdeacon. of Cornwall, on the resig-
nation of his eldest brother. After the restora-
tion, he was made Chaplain to Charles II, Canon
of Windsor, Archdeacon of Canterbury; and in
1662, he was promoted to the See of Chester.
He died Aug. 23, 1668.* The cause of his death
was rather singular; he was killed by a knife
which happened to be open in his pocket, when
‘he fell in his garden at Wigan.
The following anecdote respecting his large
family of children, his remarks, aud parental
* Walker's Sufferings of the Clergy, part II. pp. 25-27.
22 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
affection, are highly interesting: * I remember,”
says he, ‘‘a great man coming to my house at
Waltham, and seeing all my children standing in
the order of their age and stature, said, * These
are they that make rich men poor,' but he straight
received this answer; * Nay, my Lord, these are
they, that make a poor man rich; for there is not —
one of these, whom we would part with for all
your wealth. Then he remarks; “ it is easy to
observe, that none are so gripple and hard fisted,
as the childless: whereas those, who, for the
maintenance of large families, are inured to fre-
quent disbursements, find such experience of
Divine Providence in the faithful managing of
their affairs, as that they lay out with more cheer-
fulness than they receive. Wherein their care
must be abated, when God takes it off from them
to himself; and, if they be not wanting to them-
selves, their faith gives them ease, in casting their
burden upon him, who hath both more power and
more right to it, since our children are more his
than our own. He that feedeth the young ravens,
Ps. cxlvii, 9. can'he fail the best of his creatures r”
* Worthy Master Greenham tells us of a gen-
tiewoman, who coming into the cottage of a poor
neighbour, and seeing it furnished with store of
children, could say, Here are the mouths, but
where is the meat? but, not long after, she was
paid in her own coin: for the poor woman, coming
VISIT TO THE CONTINENT. 93
to her after the burial of her last and now only
child, inverted the question upon her, ‘ Here is
^5» *
the meat, but where are the mouths 7
The Bishop continues.—* I had not passed two
years in this estate, when my noble friend, Sir
Edmund Bacon, with whom I had much entire-
ness, came to me; and earnestly solicited me for
my company in a journey, by him projected to the
Spa in Ardenna: laying before me the safety, the
easiness, the pleasure, and the benefit, of that small
extravagance, if opportunity were taken of that
time, when the Earl of Hertford passed in
embassy to the Archduke Albert of Brussels. 1
soon yielded ; as for the reasons by him urged,
so especially for the great desire I had to inform
myself ocularly of the state and practice of the
Romish church; the knowledge whereof might
be of no small use to me in my holy station.
* Having, therefore, taken careful order for the
supply of my charge, with the assent and good
allowance of my nearest friends, I entered into
this secret voyage.
* We waited some days at Harwich for a wind ;
which we hoped might waft us over to Dunkirk,
where our Ambassador had lately landed : but,
at last, having spent a day and half a night at sea,
* Bishop Hall's Works, vol. viii, p. 177.
24 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
we were forced, for want of favor from the wind,
to put in at Queenborough: from whence coast-
ing over the rich and pleasant country of Kent,
we renewed our shipping at Dover; and, soon
landing at Calais, we passed after two days by
waggon to the strong towns of Gravelines and
Dunkirk: where I could not but find much
horror in myself to pass under those dark and :
dreadful prisons, where so many brave English-
men had breathed out their souls in a miserable
captivity. . From thence we passed through: Win-
noxberg, Ypres, Ghent, Courtray, to Brussels;
where the Ambassador had newly sat down
before us. |
. **'That noble gentleman, in whose company I
travelled, was welcomed with many kind visita-
tions. Amongst the rest, there came to him an
English gentleman, who, having run himself out
of breath in the inns of court, had forsaken his
country, and therewith his religion; and was
turned both bigot and physician, residing now in
Brussels. This man, after few interchanges of
compliment with Sir Edmund Bacon, fell into a
hyperbolical predication of the wonderful miracles
done newly by our Lady at Zichem, or Sherpen-
Heavell, that is Sharp-Hill, by Lipsius Apn-
collis: .the credit whereof when that worthy
knight wittily questioned, he avowed a particular
miracle of curé wrought by.her on himself. I,
VISIT TO THE CONTINENT. 95
coming into the room in the midst of this dis-
course, habited not like a divine but in such .
color and fashion as might best secure my travel,
and hearing my countryman's zealous and con-
fident relations, at last asked him this question:
‘Sir,’ quoth I, put case this report of yours be
granted for true, I beseech you teach me what
difference there is, betwixt these miracles which
you say are wrought by this lady, and those
which were wrought by Vespasian, by some
vestals, by charms, and spells; the rather, for
that I have noted, in the late published report of
these miracles, some patients prescribed to come
on a Friday, and some to wash in such a well
before their approach, and divers other such
charm-like observations. The gentleman, not
expecting such a question from me, answered,
‘Sir, I do not profess this kind of scholarship; |
but we have in the city many famous divines,
with whom if it would please you to confer, you
might sooner receive satisfaction. I asked him
whom he took for the most eminent divine of
that place. He named to me Father Costerus:
undertaking that he would be very glad to give
me conference, if I would be pleased to come up
to the Jesuits' college. I willingly yielded. In
the afternoon, the forward gentleman prevented
his time to attend me to the Father, as he styled
him ; who, as he said, was ready to entertain me
26 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
with a meeting. I went alone up with him. The
porter, shutting the door after me, welcomed me
with a Deo gratias. 1 had not staid long in the
Jespits’ hall, before Costerus came in to me:
who, after a friendly salutation, fell into a formal
speech of the unity of that church, out of which
is no salvation: and had proceeded to lose his
breath and labor, had not I, as civilly as I might,
interrupted him with this short answer: * Sir, I
- beseech you mistake me not. My nation tells
you of what religion I am. I come not hither,
out of any doubt of my professed belief, or any
purpose to change it; but, moving a question to
this gentleman concerning the pretended miracles
of the time, he pleased to refer me to yourself
for my answer: which motion of his I was the
more willing to embrace, for the fame that I have
heard of your learning and worth: and, if you
can give me satisfaction herein, I am ready to
receive it, Hereon we settled to our places, at
a table in the end of the hall; and buckled to a
further discourse. He fell into a poor and
unperfect account of the difference of divine
miracles and diabolical; which I modestly
refuted. From thence he slipped into a choleric
invective against our church, which, as he said, —
could not yield one miracle; and when I
answered, that, in our church, we had manifest
proofs of the ejection of devils by fasting and
VISIT TO THE CONTINENT. 27
prayer, he answered, that, if it could be proved,
. that ever any devil was dispossessed in our
church, he would quit his religion. Many |
questions were incidently traversed by us,wherein ~
I found no satisfaction given me. The confer-
ence was long and vehement: in the heat whereof,
who should come in but Father Baldwin, an
English Jesuit, known to me, as by face (after I
came to Brussels) so much. more by fame. He
sat down ona bench, at the further end of the
table, and heard no small part of our disserta-
tion; seeming not too well apaid, that a gentle-
man of his nation (for still I was spoken to in
that habit, by the style of Dominatio vestra)
should depart from the Jesuits’ college no better
satisfied. On the next morning, therefore, he
sends the same English physician to my lodging,
with a .courteous compellation; professing to
take it uokindly, that his countryman should
make choice of any other to confer with than
himself, who desired both mine acquaintance and
fall satisfaction. Sir Edmund Bacon, in whose
hearing the message was delivered, gave me secret
signs of his utter unwillingness to give way to my
further conferences: the issue whereof, since we
were to pass further and beyond the bounds of
that protection, might prove dangerous. I
returned a mannerly answer of thanks to F.
Baldwin; but, for any further conference, that
28 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
it were bootless. I could not hope to convert
him, and was resolved he should not alter me;
and, therefore, both of us should rest where
we were,
. ** Departing from Brussels, we were for Namur
and Liege. In the way we found the good hand
of God, in delivering us from the danger of free-
booters; and of a nightly entrance, amidst a
suspicious convoy, into that bloody city.
“Thence we came to the Spadane Waters;
where I had good leisure to add a second Cen-
tury of Meditations to those I had published
before my journey.
* After we had spent a just time at those
medicinal wells, we returned to Liege; and, in
our passage up the river Mosa, I had a dangerous
conflict with a Sorbonist, a prior of the Carme-
lites, who took occasion, by our kneeling at the
receipt of the Eucharist, to persuade all the
company of our acknowledgment of a transub-
stantiation. I satisfied the cavil; showing on
what ground this meet posture obtained with us.
The man grew furious upon his conviction ; and his
vehement associates began to join with him, in a
right-down railing upon: our church and religion.
I told them they knew where they were: for
me, I had taken notice of the security of their
laws, inhibiting any argument held against their
religion established, and therefore stood only on
' VISIT TO THE CONTINENT. 29
my defence; not casting any aspersion on theirs,
but ready to maintain our own: which though I
performed in as fair terms as I might, yet the
choler of those zealots was so moved, that the .
paleness of their changed countenances began
to threaten some perilous issue, had not Sir
Edmund Bacon, both by his eye and by his
tongue, wisely taken me off. I subduced myself
speedily from their presence, to avoid further
provocation. The Prior began to bewray some
suspicions of my borrowed habit; and told them
‘that himself had a green satin suit once prepared
for his travels into England: so as I found it
needful for me to lie close at Namur. .
** From whence travelling the next day towards
Brussels in the company of two Italian captains,
Signior Ascanio Negro, and another whose name
I have forgotten: who, inquiring into our nation.
and religion, wondered to hear that we had any
baptism or churches in England; the congruity
of my Latin, in respect of their perfect barbarism,
drew me and the rest into their suspicion: so as
I might overhear them muttering to each other,
. that we were not the men we appeared. Straight
the one of them boldly expressed his conceit;
and, together with this charge, began to inquire
of our condition. I told him, that the gentleman
he saw befere us was the grandchild of that
renowned. Bacon, the great chancellor of England,
30 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
a man of great birth and quality; and that
myself and my other companion travelled in his
attendance to the Spa, from the train and under
the privilege of our late ambassador: with which .
just answer I stopped their mouths.
* Returning through Brussels, we came down
to Antwerp, the paragon of cities: where my
. curiosity to see a solemn procession on St. John
Baptist's day might have drawn me into danger,
through my willing unreverence, had not the hulk
of a tall Brabanter, behind whom I stood in a
corner of the street, shadowed me from notice.
* Thence, down the fair river of Scheldt, we
came to Flushing: where, on the resolution of
our company to stay some hours, [I hasted to
Middleburgh, to see an ancient colleague. That
visit lost me my passage. Ere I could return,
I might see our ship under sail for England.
The master had with the wind altered his pur-
pose; and called aboard ‘with such eagerness,
that my company must either away, or undergo
the hazard of too much loss. I looked long
after them in vain; and, sadly returning to Mid-
dleburgh, waited long, for an inconvenient and
tempestuous passage.”
The following account of his travels, in an
epistle to Sir Thomas Challoner, tutor to Henry
Prince of Wales, in addition to the above, is well.
worthy to be recorded here:
VISIT TO THE CONTINENT. 31
* Beside my hopes, not my desires, I travelled -
of late: for.knowledge, partly; and, partly, for
health. There was nothing, that made not my
journey pleasant, save the labour of the way:
which yet was so sweetly deceived, by the society
of Sir Edmund Bacon, a gentleman truly honour-
able beyond all titles, that I found small cause to
complain.
* The sea brooked not me, nor Lit; an unquiet
element, made only for wonder and use, not for
pleasure. Alighted once from that wooden con-
veyance and uneven way, I bethought myself how
fondly our life is committed to an unsteady and
reeling piece of wood, fickle winds, restless
waters; while we may set foot, on steadfast and
constant earth.
* Lo, then every thing taught me, every thing
delighted me: so ready are we to be affected
with those foreign pleasures, which, at home, we
should overlook. I saw much, as one might in
such a span of earth, in so few months. The time
favoured me: for, now newly had the key of
peace opened those parts, which war had before
closed ; closed, I say, to all English, save either
fugitives or captives. All civil occurrences ; as
what fair cities, what strange fashions, entertain-
ment, dangers, delights we found ; are fit for other
ears, and winter evenings: what 1 noted, as a
divine, within the sphere of my profession, my
32 LIFE OF BISHOP. HALL.
paper shall not spare, in some part, to report ;
and that to yourself, which have passed a longer
way, with more happy fruit of observation. . Even
little streams empty themselves into great rivers;
and they, again, into the sea. . Neither do I desire
to tell you, what you know not: it shall be suffi-
cient, that I relate ought, which others shall think
memorable. a
* Along our way, how many churches saw we
demolished! Nothing left, but rude heaps, to.
tell the passenger, there had been both devotion
and hostility. Oh, the miserable footsteps of war,
besides bloodshed, ruin.and desolation! Fury
hath done that there, which Covetousness would
do with us; would do, but shall not: the
truth within, shall save the walls without. And,
to speak truly, whatever the vulgar exclaim,
idolatry pulled down those walls; .not rage. If
there had been no Hollander to raze them, they
should have fallen alone; rather than hide so
much impiety, under their guilty roof. These are
spectacles, not so much of cruelty, as Justice :
cruelty of man, justice of God.
“ But, which I wondered at, Churches fall, and
Jesuits’ Colleges rise, every where: there is no
city, where those are not either rearing or built. .
Whence cometh this? Is it, for that devotion is:
not so necessary, as policy? Those men, as we
say of the fox, fare best, when thev. are. most
. VISIT TO THE CONTINENT. 33
cursed : none, so much spited of their own; none,
so hated of all; none, so opposed. by-ours: and
yet these ill weeds grow. Whosoever lives long,
shall see them feared of their own, which now
hate them; shall see these seven lean kine devour
all the fat beasts, that feed'on the meadows: ot
Tiber, I prophesy, as Pharaoh dreamed: the
event shall justify my confidence.
* At Bruxilles, I saw some. Englishwomen pro-
fess themselves Vestals; with a thousand rites;
I know not whether more ridiculous, or magical.
Poor souls! they could not be fools enough at
home. It would have made you to pity, laugh,
disdain, I know not which more, to see, by what
cunning slights and fair pretences, that weak sex
was fetched into a wilful bondage: and, if those
two can agree, willingly constrained to serve a
master, whom they must and cannot obey: whom
they neither may forsake for their vow, nor can
please for their frailty. What follows hence?
Late sorrow, secret mischief, misery irremediable.
Their forwardness for will-worship, shall condemn
our coldness for truth. -
“ I talked there, in more boldness perhaps than
wisdom, with Costerus, a famous Jesuit; an old ©
man, more testy than subtle, and more able to
wrangle than satisfy. Our discourse was long
and roving; and, on his part, full both of words
and vehemency. He spake, as at home; I, as a
D
34 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
stranger: yet so, as he saw me modestly peremp-
tory. The particulars would swell my letter too
much: it is enough, that the truth lost less than I
gained. EE
* At Gant, a city that commands reverence
for age aud wonder for the greatness, we fell upon
a Capuchin Novice, which wept bitterly, because
he was not allowed to be miserable. His head
had now felt the razor; his back, the rod: all that
Laconical discipline pleased him well; which
another, being condemned to, would justly ac-
count a torment. What hindered then? Piety,
to his mother, would not permit this, which he
thought piety to God. He could not be a willing
beggar, unless his mother must beg unwillingly.
He was the only heir of his father, the only stay
of his mother: the comfort of her widowhood
depended on this her orphan; who now, naked,
must enter into the world of the Capuchins, as he
came first into this; leaving his goods to the divi-
sion of the fraternity: the least part whereof
should have been hers, whose he wished all.
Hence those tears, that repulse. I pitied his iil-
‘bestowed zeal; and rather wished, than durst,
teach him more wisdom. These men for devout,
the Jesuits for learhed and pragmatical, have
engrossed all opinions, from other Orders. O
hypocrisy! No Capuchm may take or touch
silver: for these are, you know, the quintessence
VISIT TO THE CONTINENT. 35
of Franciscan spirits. This metal is as very an
attatliema' to these, as the wedge of gold to
A'chan: at the offer whereof he starts back, as
Moses ffom the Serpent: yet he éarries a boy'
with: him, that' takes and: carries it; and never
complains, of erther metal or measure. I saw,
and' laughed: at it; and, by this open trick’ of
hypocrisy, suspected more, more close: How
could I choose? whilé, commonly, the least
appeats of that which is; especially of that which
iv loathsome in‘appedrance, much more in nature.
At Namur, on a pleasant and steep hill-top, we
found one, that was termed a miarried hermit;
approving his wisdom above his fellows, that
could make choice of so cheerful and sociable a .
solitariness.
* Whence, after a‘ delightfül passage up’ the
sweet river Mosa, * we visited the populous and
rich clergy of Leodium.[ The great city might
well be ‘dichotomized into cloisters and hospitals.
If I might adventure, I'could here play the critic;
after all’ the rains’ of my neglected philology.
Old monuments, and after'them our Lipsius, call’
this people'Eburones. I'doubt whether it should’
not rather be writtén Ebriones; yet, without
séatch/' of any other records, save my own eyes:
* The Maes. + Liege.
D2
36 .LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
while yet I would those streets were most moist
with wine, than with blood; wherein no day, no
night is not dismal to.some. No law, no magis-
trate lays hold on the known murderer, if himself
list: for, three days .after his fact, the gates are
open, and justice shut: private violence may
pursue him; public justice cannot: whence, some
of more hot temper carve themselves of revenge;
others take up with asmall pecuniary satisfaction.
O England, thought I, happy for justice, happy
for security! There, you shall find, in every
corner, a maumet; at every door, a beggar; in
every dish, a priest.
* From thence we passed to the Spa, a village
famous for her medicinal and mineral waters,
compounded of iron and copperas; the virtue
whereof yet the simple inhabitant ascribes to
their beneficial Saint, whose heavy foot hath
made an ill-shaped impression, in a stone of his
Savenir;* a water more wholesome than plea-
sant, and yet more famous than wholesome.
**'T'he wide deserts on which it borders, are
haunted with three kinds.of ill cattle; freebooters,
wolves, witches: although these two last are
ofttimes one. For, that savage Ardenna is
reputed to yield many of those monsters, whom
the Greeks call AunavSpuarss ; they, Lougarous; we
* The name of the upper well of the Spa.
VISIT TO THE CONTINENT. 37
if you will, Witch-wolves : witches, that have put
on the shape of those cruel beasts. We saw a
boy there, whose half-face was devoured by one
of them, near the village: yet so, as that the ear
was rather cut, than bitten off. Not many days
before our coming, at Limburgh, was executed one
of those miscreants, who confessed, on the wheel,
to have devoured two and forty children in that.
form. It would ask a large volume, to scan this
problem of lycanthropy. ‘he reasons, wherewith
their relation furnished me, on both parts, would
make an epistle tedious. This, in short, E
resolved: a substantial change is above the reach
of all infernal powers ; proper to the same hand,
that created the substance of both: herein the
Devil plays the double sophister: yea, the sor.
cerer with sorcerers: he both deludes the witch's
conceit, and the beholders' eyes.
- *One thing I may not omit, without sinful over-
sight; a short, but memorable story, which the
Greffier of that town, though of different religion,
reported to more ears than ours. When the last
Inquisition tyrannized in those parts, and helped
to spend the faggots of Ardenna ; one of the rest,
a confident confessor, being led far to his stake,
sung psalms along the way, in a heavenly courage
and victorious triumph. The cruel officer, envy-
ing his last mirth, and grieving to see him merrier
than his tormentors, commanded him silence: he
38 LIFE OF BISHOP ALL.
sings still, as desirous to improve hig last breath
to the best: the view of his approaching glory,
bred his joy; his joy breaks forth into a cheerful
confession. The enraged Sheriff causes his tongue,
drawn forth to the length, to.be cut off near the
roots. Bloody wretch! It had.heen good music,
.. to bave heard his shrieks; but, to.hear his mysic,
was torment. The poor Martyr dies in silence,
rests in peace. Not many months after, our
butcherly officer had a son born with his taggue
hanging down upon his chin, like a deer. after
long chase; which never could be gathered up,
within the bounds of his lips. O the divine hand,
full of justice, full of revenge! Go now, Lipsius,
and write the new miracles of thy goddess; and
confirm superstition, by strange events. Judge,
you that have seen, if ever the chapel of Halle or
Zichen have yielded ought more notable.
** We met, every where,* pilgrims to:those his
Ladies: two Ladies, shall I call them ; or one
Lady, in two shrines? If two, why do they wor-
ship but one? If but one, why doth she that cure
at Zichem, which at Halle she could not? Oh,
what pity it is, that so high a wit shonld, in the
last act, be subject to dotage! All the masculine
* Histoire et Miracles, &c. ** Que le 8. jour du mois de Sep-
tembre au dict an. 1608, etant Feste de la Nativité de notre
Dame, le nombre de pelerins a eté environ 20000.” Page 36.
VISIT TO THE CONTINENT. 39
brood of that brain we cherished,. and, if need
were, admired: but these his silly virgins, the
feeble issue of distempered age, who can abide?
One of his darlings, at Louan, * told me, from his
own mouth, that the eldert of these two daugh-
ters, was by him, in ten days, got, conceived,
born, christened. I believed; and wondered not.
. These.acts of superstition have an invisible father
and midwife: besides, that it is not for an ele-
/ phant to go three years with a mouse. It was
told me, in the shop.of his Moretus, not without
some indignation, that our king, when he had well
viewed the book, and read some passages, threw
it to the ground, with this censure: “ Damnation
to him, that made it; and to him, that believes
it:” whether a:true story, or one of their legends,
I enquire not: I am sure, :that sentence did not
so much discontent them, as it Joyed me. ,
* Let me tell you yet, ere I take off my pen,
two wonders more, which I saw in that wonder
of cities, Ántwerp.
* One, a solemn mass in a shambles, and that
on God's day: .while the house was full of meat,
of butchers, of buyers, some kueeling, others bar-
gaining, most talking, all busy. It was strange, to
see one house sacred to God and the belly; and
how those two services agreed. "The priest did
* Louvaine. + Virgo Hallenss.
40 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
eat flesh, the butchers sold flesh; in one roof, at
one-instant. The butcher killed, and sold it by
pieces; the priest did sacrifice, and orally devour
it whole: whether was the more butcher? The
like we might have seen at Malines
-“ The other, an Englishman,* so madly devout,
that he had wilfully mured up himself as an
anchorite; the worst of all prisoners: there sat
he, pent up, for his further merit; half hunger- -
starved, for the charity of the citizens. "It: was
worth seeing, how manly he could bite in ‘his
secret want; and dissemble his over-late repent-
ance. I cannot commend his mortification, if he
wish to be in ‘heaven, yea, in purgatory, to be
delivered from thence. I durst not pity him; -
because his durance was willing, and, as he hoped,
meritorious: but, such encouragement as he had
from me, such thank shall he have: from God;
who, instead of an * Euge," which he looks for,
shall angrily challenge him, with ** Who required
this?" Ileave him now, in his own fetters ; you,
to your worthy and honourable employments.
“Pardon me this length. Loquacity is the
natural fault of Travellers: while I profit any, I
may well be forgiven.”
* One Goodwin, a Kentish-man.
HIS REMOVAL. FROM .HALSTEAD. 41
The Bishop continues..the ** Account. of him-
self^— ss |
: After. some:year and half, it t pleased God i mex-
pectedly. to contrive the. change..of my station.
* My. means. were but short.at Halsted; yet, —
such as I oft. professed, if my.then patron would
have added but one ten pounds.by. year, which I
held to:be the value of my detained due, I should
never have removed. One morning, as I lay.in
my bed, a strong motion was. suddenly glanced
into my thoughts of going to London. I arose,
and betook me to the way. The.ground, that
appeared of that purpose, was to speak with my
patron Sir Robert Drury; if, by occasion of the
public. preachership of St. Edmund’s-Bury ‘then
offered me on good conditions, I might draw him
to a willing yieldance of that .parcel of my due
maintenance, which was kept back from my not
over-deserving. predecessor: who, hearing my
errand, dissuaded me from so ungainful a change,
which, had it been to my.sensible advantage, he
should have readily given way unto; but not
offering me the expected encouragement of. my
continuance..
“With him I staid, and preached on the Sunday
followmg. ‘That day Sir Robert Drury, meeting
with the Lord Denny, fell belike into the com-
mendation of my sermon. That religious and
42 LEFE OF BisHOP HALL.
noble Lord had long harboured good thoughts
concerning me, on the reading of those poor
pamphlets which I had formerly published ; and
long wished the opportunity to know me. To
please him in this desire, Sir Robert willed me to
go and tender my service to his Lordship; which
I modestly and. seriously deprecated : yet, on his
earnest charge, went to his Lordship's gate;
where I was not sorry to hear of his absence.
* Being now full of cold and distemper in
Drury-lane, I was found out by a friend, in
whom I-had formerly no great interest, one Mr.
Gurrey, tutor to the Earl of Essex. He told me
how -well my Meditations were accepted at the
Prince’s.court, * and earnestly advised me to.step
over to Richmond, and preach to his Highness.
I strongly pleaded my indisposition of body, and
my inpreparation for any such work; together
with my bashful fears, aud utter.unfitness for.such
a presence. My averseness doubled his impor-
tunity: in fine, he left me not, till he had my
engagement to. preach the Sunday followiag at
Richmond. He made way for me to that awful
pulpit; and encouraged me by the favour.of his .
noble lord, the Earl of Essex. I preached.
Through the favour of my God, that sermon was
* Prince Henry.
HIS REMOVAL FROM HALSTEAD. 43
not so well given as taken; insomuch as that
sweet ‘prince signified his desire to hear me again
the Tuesday following. Which dene, that labor
gave wore contentment than the former: so as
that gracious prince both gave me his hend and
commanded me to his service,
* My patron, seeing me, on my retum .to Lon-
don, looked after by some great persons, began to
wish me at heme; and told me, that some or other
would:be snatching me up. I answered, that it
was in his power to prevent: would he be pleased
to make my maintenance but so competent as in
right it should be, I would never stir from him.
Instead of condescending, it pleased him to
fall into an expostwation of the rate of competen-
cies; affirming the variableness thereof, according
to our own estimation, and our either raising. or
moderating the causes of ourexpenses. I shewed
him the insufficiency of. my means: that I was
farced to write books ‘to buy books. Shortly,
some harsh and unpleasing auswer so disheartened
tunity oft my 1 remove.
* Now, while I was taken up with these anxious
thoughts, a messenger (it was Sir Robert Wing-
field of Northampton's son) came to me from the
Lord Denny, now Earl of Norwich, my after
most honorable patron, entreating me from his
Lordship to speak with him, No sooner came I
44 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
thither, than, after a glad and noble welcome, I
was entertained with the earnest offer of Waltham.
The conditions were, like the mover of them, free
and -bountifal. I received them, as from the
munificent hand of God : and returned, full of:the
cheerful acknowledgments of a gracious provi-
dence over me.”
"The church of Waltham is neither rectory.nor
vicarage, but a curacy or donative, cum curd
animarum, and, anciently had only a poor stipend
of £8. a year pertaining to it, till by the pious
bounty of Edward Earl of Norwich, £100. per
annum, with other considerable accommodations,
were settled upon the incumbent, and good lands
tied for the true payment thereof.*
How unwilling Mr. Hall was to. be obliged to
remove from Halstead ; and his feelings on the
occasion, are particularly described in the follow-
ing letter to Sir Robert Drury, and his lady, con-
cerning his removal from them:
* See Magna Britannia, vol. i, p.655. Ed. 1720. 4to. Dr.
Thomas Fuller, the Author of the Church History, History of
Waltham Abbey, ‘ Worthies," &c. &c.. was collated to this
donative by the Rt. Hon. John Haye, Earl of Carlisle. Fuller,
speaking of his predecessor Hall, says, ** Here I must pay the
tribute of my gratitude to his memory, as building upon his
foundation, beholding myself as his great-grand-child in that
place, three degrees from him in succession: but, Oh! how
many from him in ability!” WonTHiEs, vol.i, p. 566. 4to,
. 1811.
HIS REMOVAL FROM HALSTEAD. A45
* With how unwilling a heart'I leave you, He
knows, that searches. the heart: neither durst I
go, but that I sensibly see his hand pulling me
from you. Indeed, desire of competency betrayed
me, at first; and drew mine eyes to look aside:
but, when I bent them upon the place, and saw
the number and the need of the people, together
with their hunger and applause, meeting with the
circumstances of God’s strange conveyance of
this offer to me; I saw, that was but as the
fowler’s feather, to make me stoop: and, con-
temning that respect. of myself, I sincerely
acknowledged higher motives of my yielding ; ; and
resolved I might not resist.
* You are dear to me, as a Charge to a Pastor:
if my pains to you have not proved it, suspect me.
Yet I leave you. God calls me to a greater
work :. I must follow him. It were more ease to
me, to live secretly hidden in that quiet obscurity,
as Saul amongst the stuff, than to be drawn out to
the eye of the world';. to act so high a part, before
a thousand witnesses. In this point, if I seem to
neglect you, blame me not: J must neglect and
forget myself. .
_“T can but labour, wheresoever I am. God
knows how willingly I do.that ; whether there or
here. I shall dig, and delve, and plant, in what
ground soever my Master sets me. If he take
46 LIFE OF BISHOP WAEE.
me to a larger field, complain yow not of loss,
while the Charch may gain.
* But, you are my own charge: no wise father
heglects his own, in compassion: of the greatest
need of others: yet consider, that even: éarefal
parents, when the prince commands, leave’ theiy
' families, and go to warfare.
** What if God: had called me:to heaven? would
you have grudged: my departure? Imagine’ that
I am there, where bL shall be; although the case
be not to you altogether hopeless: for, now [f
may hear of you, visit you, renew my holy coun- -
sels, and be mutually comforted from you; there;
none of these. He, that will once transpose me
frem.earth to heaven, hath now chosen to traris-
pose me from one piece of earth to'another: what
is here worthy of your sorrow; worthy of com
plaint? ‘That should be for my own: good: this
shall be for the good.of many. If your experi-
ence have taught you; that. my labours do promise
profit;. obtain of yourself to: deny yourself so!
rauch, as to rejoice that the loss of.a few should:
be the advantage: of many souls, Though, why
do I speak-of loss? I speak that, as your fear,
net my own: and your affection causes that fear,
rather than the occasion.
‘The God. of the Harvest shall send: you a
labourer, more able; as careful. That is my
prayer, and hope, and shall be my joy. I dare
COLLATED TO WALTHAM. 47
not leave, but in this éxpectation, this assurance.
Whatever become of tne, it shall be my greatest
comfort to hear you commend your change ; and
to see your happy progress in those ways, I hare
both shewed you, and beaten. So shall we meet
ih the end, and never part."*
About the time he was collated to Waltham
Holy Cross, that is about the year 1612, he took
his degree of Doctor in Divinity. He was also at
this time a principal instrument in determining
Thomas Sutton, Esq. the foutider of the Charter-
house, to purchase and erect that famous hospital.
See hrs letter to Mr. Sutton in the 7th volume of
his Works, p. 243, wherein he excites ‘him, and
in him, all others, to early and cheerful benefi-
cence, shewing the necessity and benefit of good
works." T
He continues his own account.—': Too late
new did my former woble patron relent; and
offer tne those terms, which had, before, fastened
me for ever.
* Bp. Hall's Works, vol. vii, p. 143.
t Hern. in vit. Sutton 59. Thomas Sutton, Esq. purchased
the dissolved Charter House, in 1611, fer £ 13,000, and founded
the hospital as it now stands, with ap intention of being the
first master, but died before its corrpletiom, Dec. 12, the same
year. At his death, he was the richest commoner in the
kingdom.
48 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
** I returned home, happy in a new master, and
in a new patron: betwixt whom I divided: myself
and my labors, with much comfort and no less.
; acceptation.”
About the year 1610, Mr. Hall appeared &-
very able apologist for the Church of England
against the Brownists,.a sect then newly sprung
up, and so denominated from one Robert Brown, a
fiery, hot-headed person,. who, about the year
1580, and before, went about the country, inveigh--
ing against the discipline and ceremonies of the
church, and exhorting the people by no means to
comply with them. He boasted that for his.
preaching against Bishops, ceremonies, &c. he
had been committed to thirty-two prisons, in
some of which he could not see his hand at noon-.
day. He and several of his followers left the
kingdom, and settled at Middleburg in Zealand.
There he formed a church according to his own.
model; but his people began to quarrel so vio-
lently, and divide into parties, that he returned to.
England in 1585. His father would not admit
him into his house, saying, * that he would not
own him for a son who would not own the Church.
of England for his: mother. After rambling and.
preaching against the church up and down the
country, he settled at Northampton. But here
WRITINGS AGAINST THE BROWNISTS. 49
his preaching was so offensive that he was cited
before Dr. Linsdale, Bishop of Peterborough,
who, upon refusing to appear, publicly excommu-
nicated him for contempt. This made such an
impression upon the mind of Brown, that he
renounced his principles of separation, and having
obtained absolution, he was about the year 1592,
preferred to the rectory of a church near Oundle
in Northamptonshire. According to Fuller, that
far from: the sabbatarian strictness espoused by
his followers, he was rather dissolute and a liber-
tine; “in a word," continues our historian, ‘‘ he
had a wife with whom he never lived, a church in
which he never preached, and as all the other
scenes of his life were stormy and turbulent, so
was his end.”* For being poor, and proud and
very passionate, he struck the constable of his
parish for demanding the payment of a rate; and
being beloved by no body, he was summoned
before a magistrate Sir Rowland St. John, who
committed him to Northampton goal. The
decrepid old man not being able to walk, was
carried thither upon a feather bed in a cart, where
not long after he died, in 1630, in the 81st year
of his age. The Brownists, though they pre-
tended that they did not differ from the Church
of England in any article of faith, yet so far
* Fuller's Ch. Hist. ch. ix, p. 167.
E
$0 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
dissented from it, as not to allow it to be a true
church, nor its ministers to be rightly ordained.
They maintained the discipline of the Church to
be popish and anti-christian, and all her ordi-
nances and sacraments invalid. Hence they
renounced all communion with it in prayer, in
hearing the word, or in any part of public
worship. And they not only renounced com.
munion with the Church of England, but with all
others, except such as should be of their own
model. So rigid and narrow they were in points
of discipline.
Mr. Hall, about the year 1608, wrote a Let-
ter to Mr. John Smith and Mr. John Robinson,
who separated from the Church, turned Brown-
ists, and settled at Amsterdam as ringleaders *
.. of the party there; in which letter he states
the injury done by them to the church, the
injustice of their cause, and fearfulness of their
offence, censuring and advising them thus :.—
* We hear of your separation, and mourn; yet
not so much for you, as for your wrong."
* Robinson, in his pamphlet, called, ** an Answer to a Cen-
sorious Epistle,” seemed displeased at being called **a ringleader
of the late separation;" Hall wittily retorts, ** Perhaps I
should have put him in the tail of this train. Perhaps I should
have endorsed my letter to Mr. Smith and his Shadow." Apology
against the Brownists, Works, vol.ix, p. 401.
WRITINGS AGAINST THE BROWNIST3. 9l
* You could not do a greater injury to your
mother, than to flee from her. Say, she were
poor, ragged, weak; say, she were deformed ;
yet she is not infectious : or, if she were, yet she
is yours. This were cause enough for you to
lament her, to pray for her, to labour for her
redress; not to avoid her. This unnaturalness
is shameful ; and more heinous in you, who are
reported not parties in this evil, bat authors.
Your.flight is not so much, as your misguidance.
* Plead not: this fault is past excuse: if we all
should follow you, this were the way of à Church,
as you plead, imperfect, to make no Church;
and of a remedy, to make a disease, Still the
fruit of our charity to you, is, besides our grief,
pity. Your zeal of truth hath misled you, and
you others: a zeal, if honest, yet blindfolded,
and led by self-will. Oh, that you loved peace,
but half so well as truth: then, this breach had
never been: and you, that are yet brethren, had
been still companions.
** Go out of Babylon,’ you say, ‘the voice,
not of schism, but of holiness. Kaow you
where you are? Look about you, IL beseech
you: look behind you; aud see if we have not
left it upon our backs. She herself feels, and
sees, that she is abandoned: and complains to
all the world, that we have not only forsaken,
but spoiled her; and yet you say, * Come out of
E 2
52 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
Babylon. And except you will be willingly
blind; you may see the heaps of her altars, the
ashes of her idols, the ruins of her monuments,
the condemnation of her errors, the revenge of
her abominations.
* And are we yet in Babylon? Is Babylon
yet amongst us? Where are the main buildings
of that accursed city: those high and proud
towers, of their universal hierarchy; infallible
judgment; dispensation with laws of God, and
sins of men; disposition of kingdoms ; deposition
of princes; parting stakes with God in our
conversion, through freedom of will; in our
. salvation, through the merit of our works?
Where are those rotten heaps (rotten, not
through age, but corruption) of transubstantiating
of bread, adoring of images, multitude of sacra-
ments, power of indulgences, necessity of con-
fessions, profit of pilgrimages, constrained and
approved ignorance, unknown devotions?) Where
are those deep vaults, if not mines, of penances
and purgatories, and whatsoever hath been
devised by those popelings, whether profitable
or glorious, against the Lord and his Christ:
Are they not all razed, and buried in the dust?
Hath not the majesty of her gods, like as was
done to Mythra and Serapis, been long ago
offered to the public laughter of the vulgar?
WRITINGS AGAINST THE BROWNISTS. o3
What i is this, but to go, yea to run, if not to fly,
out of Babylon?
* But, as every man is a hearty patron of his
own actions, and it is a desperate cause that hath
no plea, you allege our consorting in Ceremonies;
and say, still we tarry in the suburbs. Grant
that these were as ill, as an enemy can make
them, or can pretend them: you are deceived,
if you think the walls of Babylon stand upon
Ceremonies. Substantial errors are both her
foundation and frame. These ritual observations
are not so much as tile and reed: rather like to
some fane upon the roof; for ornament, more
than use: not parts of the building; but not
necessary appendances. If you take them other-
wise, you wrong the Church: if thus, and yet
depart, you wrong it and yourself: as if you
would have persuaded righteous Lot, not to stay
in Zoar, because it was so near Sodom. | fear,
if you had seen the money-changers in the
Temple, however you would have prayed, or
taught there: Christ did it; not forsaking the
place, but scourging the offenders. And this is
the valour of Christian Teachers, to oppose
abuses, not to run away from them. Where
shall you not thus find Babylon? Would you
have run from Geneva, because of her wafers? or,
from Corinth, for her disordered love-feasts :
54 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
« Either run out of the world, or your flight is
in vain. If experience of change teach you not,
that you shall find your Babylon every where,
return not. Compare the place you have left,
with that you have chosen: let not fear of
seeming to repent over-soon, make you partial.
Lo there a common harbour of all opinions, of all
heresies; if not a mixture: here, you drew in
the free and clear air of the Gospel, without
that odious composition of Judaism, Arianism,
Anabaptism: there, you live in the stench of
these, and more. You are unworthy of pity, if
you will approve your misery. Say, if you can,
that the Church of England, (if she were not
yours) is not a heaven, to Amsterdam. How is
it then, that our gnats are harder to swallow,
than their camels? and that, while all Christen-
dom magnifies our happiness and applauds if,
your handful alone so detests our enormities, that
you despise our graces?
* See, whether in this, you make not God a
loser. The thank of all his favours is lost,
because you want more: and in the mean time,
who gains by this sequestration, but Rome and
Hell? How do they insult in this advantage,
that our mother's own children condemn her for
unclean, that we are daily weakened by our
divisions, that the rude multitude hath so palpa-
ble a motive to distrustus? Sure, youintended it
WRITINGS AGAINST THE BROWNISTS. 09
not: but, if you had been their hired agent, you
could not have done our enemies greater service.
The God of Heaven open your eyes, that you
may see the injustice of that zeal, which hath
transported you; and turn your heart to an
endeavour of all Christian satisfaction : otherwise,
your souls shall find too late, that it had been a
thousand times better to swallow a Ceremotiy,
than to rend a Church; yea, that even whore-
doms and murders shall abide an' easier answer,
than separation.
* ] have done, if only I have advised you of
that fearful threatening of the Wise Man: The
eye, that mocketh his father, and despises ihe
government of his mother, the ravens of the valley
shall pick it out, and the young eagles eat 1t."
Smith was a person of unsettled principles,
and was for refining the Brownists’ scheme. He
advanced and maintained the doctrines of free-
will and universal redemption, and similar tenets,
afterwards espoused by Arminius.— We are also
told that he entertained some extravagant notions,
as the unlawfulness of reading the Scriptures in
public worship—that no translation of the Bible
was the word of God—that singing the praises
of God in verses, or in set words, was without
authority —that flight in time of persecution was
unlawful—that the new creature needed not the
96 LIFE OF BISHOP . HALL.
support of Scripture and ordinances, but was
above them—and that perfection was attainable
in this life. * The consequence of such opinions
caused a serious division among the Brownists.
Smith declared for the principles of the Baptists,
and gave a proof of the absurdity of his conduct,
in performing the ceremony of baptism upon
himself, on which account he was stigmatized by
the name of sE-BAPTIsT. Hall alludes to this
when he speaks in his dedication before his
* Apology against the Brownists," of one who
"had washed off the font water, as unclean; and
in Sec. 2, of the same Treatise, ** he ‘hath
renounced our Christendom with our Church,
and hath washed off his former water, with
new.”
Robinson was a beneficed clergyman near Yar-
mouth, but seceded from the Church, embraced
Brownism, and settled in Holland. In reply to
Hall’s epistle, addressed to him and Smith,
he wrote .a pamphlet, called ** An Answer
to a censorious Epistle," in which the ** blasphe-
mous imputations of apostacy, antichristianism,
whoredom, rebellion, &c." are cast upon the
Church of England. This scurrilous pamphlet
* Life of Ainsworth, p. 38.
T Bishop Hall's Works, vol. ix, p. 384.
PRINCE HENRY. o7
was the cause of Hall's writing his ** Common
Apology of the Church of England against the |
unjust Challenges of the over-just Sect, com-.
monly called Brownists."
The Narrative continues.
** [n the second year of mine attendance on his -
Highness, when I came for my dismission from
that monthly service, it pleased the Prince to
command me a longerstay ; and, at last, upon mine
allowed departure, by the mouth of Sir Thomas
Challoner, his governor, to tender unto me a
motion of more honor and favour than I was
worthy of: which was, that it was his Highness’
pleasure and purpose, to have me continually
resident at the court as a constant attendant,
while the rest held on their wonted vicissitudes :
for which purpose, his Highness would obtain for
me such preferments as should yield me full con-
tentment. I returned. my humblest thanks, and
my readiness to sacrifice myself to the service of
so gracious a master; but, being conscious to
myself of my unanswerableness to so great expec-
tation, and loath to forsake so dear and noble a
patron, who had ‘placed much of his heart on me,
I did modestly put it off, and held close. to my
Waltham: where, ina constant course, I preached
a long time, as 1 had done also at Halstead
before, thrice in the week; yet never. durst I
58 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL,
climb into the pulpit to preach any sermon
whereof I had not before, in my poor and plain
fashion, penned every word in the same order
wherein I hoped to deliver it; although, in the
expression, I listed not to bea slave to syllables.”
Prmce Henry, the eldest son of James I. died
Nov. 6, 1612, aged eighteen years and eight
months. It has been rumoured that his death
was caused by poison, but his physicians declared
to the contrary. Welwood says, that “it was
the general rumour at that time, that this prince
was poisoned. Whatever was in it, there is yet
in print a sermon preached at St. James’ upon the
dissolution of his family, that boldly insinuated
some such thing.” * Now Hall preached a fare-
well sermon to the household of Prince Henry,
on the day of their dissolution at St. James’,
March 25, 1613, when the loss of such an excel-
lent prince is pathetically lamented ;f but the
writer of this work can find not the least insinua-
tion alleged in this sermon that his death was
occasioned by poison. Prince Henry was of a
most amiable disposition, and excellent genius,
‘exceedingly beloved whilst living, and greatly
lamented after his death. He was one of the
* Memoirs, p.20. t Bishop Hall’s Works, vol. v, p. 66.
PREBENDARY OF WOLVERHAMPTON. 59
most accórmplished persons of his age, sober,
chaste, temperate, full of honor and probity, and
was never heard to swear. He was an ardént
lover of piety atid religion, and accordingly the
lover of all ood men.* Hall dedicated several of
his works to this prince, and touches with grati-
tude upon his kindness and virtues. Mr. (aftet-
wards Sir) Adam Newton was the tutor of this
prince, by whose instructions he is said to have
greatly profited. In a letter of Dr. Joseph Hall
to Mr. Newton, upon the prince being put under
his tuition, there are some excellent rules and
valuable maxims highly worthy of the attention
of those who may have the charge of educating
any of the branches of the royal family. T
We returh to the Bishop's Accoünt.
“In this while, my worthy kinsman, Mr. Samuel
Barton, archdeacon of Gloucester, knowing in
how good terms I stood at court, and pitying the
miserablé condition of his native church of
Wolverhamptón, was very desirous to ehgagé nie
in so difficult and noble a service as the redemp-
tion of that captivated church. For which cause
he importuned me to move some of my friends to
* See Harris’s Life of James I. pp. 294-802. Neale’s His-
tory of the Puritans, vol. ii, pp. 94, 95. Ed. 1794.
+ Bishop Hall’s Works, vol. vii, p. 126.
60 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
solicit the Dean of Windsor, who by an ancient
annexation is patron thereof, for the grant of a
particular prebend, when it should fall vacant in
that church. Answer was returned me, that it
was fore-promised to one of my fellow-chaplains.
I sat down, without further expectation. Some
year or two after, hearing that it was become
void, and meeting with that fellow-chaplain of
mine, I wished him much joy of the prebend. He
asked me if it were void: I assured him so; and,
telling him of the former answer, delivered to me
in my ignorance of his engagement, wished him to
basten his possession of it. He delayed not.
- When he came to the Dean of Windsor for his
promised dispatch, the Dean brought him forth
a letter from the Prince, wherein he was desired
and charged to reverse his former engagement,
since that other chaplain was otherwise provided
for: and to cast that favor on me. I was sent
for, who least thought of it; and received the free
collation of that poor dignity. It was not the
value of the place, which was but nineteen nobles
per annum, that we aimed at; but the freedom of
a goodly church, consisting of a dean and eight
prebendaries competently endowed, and many
thousand souls lamentably swallowed up by wilful
recusants, in a pretended fee-farm for ever.
* O God, what a hand hadst thou in the car-
riage of this work!
PREBENDARY OF WOLVERHAMPTON. 61
** When we set foot in this suit (for another of
the prebendaries joined with me) we knew not
"wherein to insist, nor where to ground a com-
plaint: only we knew that a goodly patrimony
was, by sacrilegious conveyance, detained from
the church. But, in the pursuit of it, such mar-
vellous light opened itself inexpectedly to us, in
revealing of a counterfeit seal, found in the ashes
of that burned house, of a false register; in the
manifestation of rasures and interpolations, and
misdates of unjustifiable evidences; that, after
many years' suit, the wise and honorable Lord
‘Chancellor Ellesmere, upon a full hearing, adjudged
these two sued-for prebends, clearly to be returned
to the church, until, by common law, they could,
if possibly, be revicted. Our great adversary,
Sir Walter Leveson, finding it but loss and trouble
to struggle for litigious sheaves, came off to a
peaceable composition with me of forty pounds
per annum for my part, whereof ten should be to
the discharge of my stall in that church, till the
suit should by course of common law be deter-
mined: we agreed on fair wars. The cause was
‘heard at the King’s Bench bar, where a special
verdict was given for us. On the death of my
partner in the suit, in whose name it had now
been brought, it was renewed; a jury empan-
nelled in the county: the foreman, who had
‘vowed he would carry it for Sir Walter Leveson
62 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
howsoever, was, before the day, stricken mad,
and so continued. We proceeded with the same
success we formerly had. While we were thus
striving, a word fell from my adversary, that gave
me intimation, that a third dog would perhaps
come in, and take the bone from us both: which
I finding to drive at a supposed concealment,
happily prevented; for I presently addressed
myself to his Majesty, with a petition for the
renewing the charter of that church; and the full
establishment of the lands, rights, liberties, thereto
belonging; which I easily obtained from those
gracious hands. Now Sir Walter Leveson, seeing
the patrimony of the church so fast and safely
- settled, and misdoubting what issue those his
crazy evidences would find at the common law,
hegan to incline to offers of peace; and at last
drew him so far, as that he yielded to those two
main conditions, not particularly for myself, but
for the whole body of all those prebends which
pertained to the church: first, that he would be
content to cast up that fee-farm, which he had of
all the patrimony of that church ; and, disclaiming
it, receive that which he held of the said church
by lease, from us the several prebendaries, for
term, whether of years, or, which he rather
desired, of lives; secondly, that he would raise
the maintenance of every prebend (whereof some
were but forty shillings, others three pounds,
PREBENDARY OF WOLVERHAMPTON. 63
ethers four, &c.) to the yearly value of thirty
pounds to each man, during the said term of his
lease: only, for a monument, of my labor and
success herein, I required that my prebend might
have the addition of ten pounds per annum above
the fellows. We were busily treating of this happy
match for that poor church: Sir Walter Leveson
was not only wilhng, but forward: the then
Dean, Mr. Antonius de Dominis, archbishop of
Spalato,* gave both way and furtherance to the
dispatch: all had been most happily ended, had
not the scrupulousness of one or two of the
number deferred so advantageous a conclusion.
In the meanwhile, Sir Walter Leveson. dies;
leaves his young orphan ward to the King: all
our hopes were now blown up; an office was
found .of all those lands; the very wonted pay-
ments were denied, and I called into the Court
of Wards, in fair likelihood, to ferego my former
hold, and yielded possession. But there it was
* See an excellent letter of Bishop Hall, in Latin, to this
Archbishop, in vol.ix. of his Works, p.214, upon the Arch-
bishop's leaving the Church of England, to recompile himself to
that of Rome, This letter is remarkably expressive of Bishop
Frali’s piety, zeal, and integrity. The Archbishop left England
with permission from King James, went to Rome, and wag
kindly entertained by Pope Gregory XV. After his death he
was thrown into the inquisition, and died soon after, not without
suspicion of poison. The day following, his body was tied to
a stake, and burnt by the sentence of the inquisition.
See Dr. Cosins' Hist. of Transubs. ed. 1076.
04 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
justly awarded by the Lord Treasurer, then
Master of the Wards, that the orphan could have
no more, no other right than the father: I was,
therefore, leftin my former state : only upon public
‘complaint of the hard condition wherein the
orphan was left, I suffered myself to be over-
entreated, to abate somewhat of that evicted
composition. Which work having once firmly
settled, in a just pity of the mean provision, if not
the destitution of so many thousand souls, and a
. desire and care to have them comfortably pro- |
vided for in the future, I resigned up the said
prebend to a worthy preacher, Mr. Lee, who
should constantly reside there, and painfully
instruct that great and long neglected people:
which he hath hitherto performed with great
mutual contentment and happy success. |
* Now during this twenty-two years which I
spent at Waltham, thrice was I commanded and
employed abroad by his Majesty in public
service. '
* First, in the attendance of the Rt. Honorable
Earl of Carlisle, then Lord Viscount Doncaster,
who was sent on a noble embassy with a gallant
retinue into France: whose entertainment there,
the annals of that nation will tell to posterity.
In the midst of that service was I surprised with
a miserable distemper of body ; which ended in
a diarrhea biliosa, not without some beginning
PREBENDARY OF WOLVERHAMPTON. 65
and further threats of a dysentery: wherewith I
was brought so low, that there seemed small
hope of my recovery. Mr. Peter Moulin, to whom
I was beholden for his frequent visitations, being
sent by my Lord Ambassador to inform him of
my estate, brought him so sad news thereof, as
that he was much afflicted therewith ;. well suppos-
ing his welcome to Waltham could not: but want
much of the heart without me. Now the time of
his return drew on, Dr. Moulin kindly offered to
remove me, on his Lordship's departure, to his
own house; promising me all careful tendance.
I thanked him; but resolved, if I could but
creep homewards, to. put myself on the journey. -
A litter was provided ; but of so little ease, that
Simeon's penitential lodging, or. a malefactor's
Stocks, had been less penal. I crawled down
from my close chamber into that carriage: In
quá videbaris mihi efferri, tanquam in sandapilá,
as Mr. Moulin wrote to me afterward. That
misery had I endured in all the long passage
from Paris to Dieppe, being left alone to the surly
muleteers, had not the providence of my good
God. brought me to-St. Germains, upon the very
minute of the setting out of those coaches which
had staid there upon that morning's entertainment
* ** In which you seemed to me to be carried, as ifin a coffin.”
66 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
of my Lord Ambassador. How glad was I, that
I might change my seat and my company! In
the way, beyond all expectation, 1 began to
gather some strength. Whether the fresh air or
the desires of my home.revived me, so much and
so sudden reparation ensued, as was sensible to
myself, and seemed strange to others. Being
shipped at Dieppe, the sea used us hardly: aud,
after a night and a great part of the day following,
sent us back well wind-beaten to that bleak
haven whence we set forth, forcing us to a more
pleasing land-passage, through the coasts of
Normandy and Picardy: towards the end whereof
my former complaint returned on me: and,
landing with me, accompanied me to and at my
. long-desired home. In this my absence it pleased
his Majesty graciously to confer on me the
deanery of Worcester; which, being promised to
me before my departure, was deeply hazarded
while I was out of sight, by the importunity and
underhand-working of somé great ones. Dr.
Field, the learned and worthy Dean of Gloucester,
was by his potent friends put into such assur-
ances of it, that I heard where he took care for
the furnishing that ample house. But God
fetched it about for me, in that absence and
nescience of mine: and that reverend and better
deserving divine was well satisfied with greater
JOURNEX TQ SCQTLAND. 67.
hopes,, and. soon. after exchanged; this mortal
estate. for ap immortal and. glorious,
<¢ Before. I could. go down, through my congnu-
ing, weakness, to. take possession, of that: diznity,.
his, Majesty pleased to design,me to his attendance.
into Scotland; where the great love and. respect
that I found, both, froni the ministers and people,
wrought me.no small envy from some of-our, own,*
Upon a commonly received supposition, that, bis,
Majesty would have no, further use of big chapr.
lnins. after his.remove from. Edinburgh (fora&nnch,
as the divines of the country, whereof there. is,
great stone. and. worthy choice, were allotted to
every station,) I easily obtained, through the
solicitation of my ever honoured Lord of Carlisle,
to return with him before my fellows. No sooner
was IL gone, than suggestions were made to. his.
Majesty of my over-plausible demeanor and doc-
trine £o that already: prejudicate people :. for which
his Majesty, after a gracious acknowledgment of
my good service there done, called me, upon his
return, to a favourable and mild account; not
more freely professing what informations had
been given against me, than his own, full satisfac-
tion with my sincere and just answer; as whose
excellent wisdom well saw, that such winning
carriage of mine could be no hinderance to those
* See Bishop Mulls Works, vol. v, p.102.
F2
68 LIFE:OF BISHOP HALL.
, his great designs. At the same time his Majesty,
having secret notice that a letter was coming to
me from Mr. W. Struther, areverend and learned
divine: of Edinburgh, concerning the Five Points
then proposed and urged to the church of Scot-
land,* was pleased to impose on me an earnest
charge, to give him a full answer in satisfaction
to those his modest doubts, and at large to
declare my judgment concerning those required
observations: which I speedily performed, with so
great approbation of his Majesty, that it pleased
bim to command a transcript thereof, as I was:
informed,' publicly read in their most famous.
* The Scots Ministers understanding that the king designed
to bring about an uniformity between the churches of England
and Scotland, appointed one Mr. William Struthers, & divine of
Edinburgh, to preach against such & proceeding; who, in his
sermon in the principal Church of Edinburgh, not only con-
demned the rites and ceremonies of the Church of England,
but prayed God to save Scotland from the same.* The fol-
lowing five points or articles were then proposed and urged to
the kirk, as a step towards producing uniformity.
1. That the holy sacraments should be received kneeling. 2.
That ministers were to administer the sacrament in private
houses to the sick, if desired. 3. That ministers were to
baptize children privately &t home, in cases of necessity. 4.
That ministers should bring such children of their parishes, as
could say the Catechism, the Lord's Prayer, the Creed, and the
Ten Commandments, to the Bishop to be confirmed. 5. That
the festivals of Christmas, Easter, Whitsunday, and the Ascen-
sion, were to be commemorated in the Kirk of Scotland.
+ This famous Letter to Mr. Struthers is in vol. ix, of Bishop
Hall's Works, p. 461—489. ]
* Heylin's Life of Laud, p. 73. Ed. 1668.
THE BOOK OF. SPORTS. 69
university : the effect whereof his Majesty veuch-
safed to signify afterwards unto some of my best
friends, with allowance beyond my hopes.”
The following year at an assembly convened at
. Perth, Aug. 25, 1618, an Act was passed to
admit those five Articles, which his Majesty
.had been courting the Scots for two: years
together to receive. The king, therefore ordered
these articles-to be read in all parish churches,
and required the ministers: to preach upon the
lawfulness of them, and to exhort their people to
. submission. And in order to give them a greater
authority, they were ordered to be published at
the market. cross of the principal boroughs; but
this proved not sufficient to enforce conformity as
was expected, so in the year 1621, it was enacted
by an Act of Parliament that those articles
should be observed ; which was certainly contrary
to the sense of the kirk and the Scots nation. *
The king's journey into Scotland was far from
answering the end he had in view; “ the king,"
says Heylin, * gained nothing by that chargeable
"journey, but the neglect of his commands, and a
contempt of his authority."
* Crawford’s Lives, p. 174. Harris's Life of James I. p. 280.
Neal's History of the Puritans, vol. it, p. 110. Heylins’s Life of
Laud, p.74. |
70 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
-His .-meajesty,-in ‘his retum from 'Scotland, in
1617, :passing: through ‘Lancashire, imagined ‘that
the strict observance of:the Sabbath-day enjoined
by the magistrates and clergy, tended to preju-
.dice-the minds of;papists-against the:strictness of
‘the Gharch of England. -Complaints'being'made
-to the*king that-the people ‘were ‘prohibited from
-all. sorts: of -diversions and sports‘on the sabbuth-
‘dey’; wherefore in order :to discourage Puritan-
ism and-to silence ‘the dbjections of »"Papists, ‘his
‘Majesty published a ‘declaration called “She
Book of Sports,” to encourage ‘retreations and
‘sports onthe Lord’siday !
1t is ‘$did: that this: book oftsports was ‘Graiwn'up
‘by Bishop Morton; ‘it was idated, **Greenwich,
‘May 24,.1618.” fFhe. substance of ‘it 3s the 'fol-
owing: “ That-for‘his.good people’s‘recreation,
his'Majesty’s pleasure'vras, ‘that “fter the end of
divine -sefviee, "they ‘should ‘not ‘be disturbed,
letted, -or discourdged from arty 'lawful recrea-
tiens ; such as dancing, ‘either of'men' ór women,
“archery ‘for mven,' leaping, eaulting,'or any such
-hdrmless ‘recreations; nor ‘having of'mag-güuntes,
whitsun :ales, ‘or. morris dances, or sétting ‘up -of
may poles, or other sports'therewith used, 'do’as
the same may be had in due and convenient
time, without impediment or let of divine service;
‘and that women should ‘have leave to carry
rushes to the church for the decorating of it,
THE BOOK OF SPORTS. 71
according to their old custgms ; withal prohibit-
ing all unlawful games to be used on Sundays
only, as bear-baiting, bull-baiting, interludes, and
at all mes (in the meaner sort of people pro-
hibited) bowling." A restraint was annexed to
this indulgence, that no papist or recusant was
to have the benefit of this declaration ; nor such
as were not present at the whole of divine ser-
vice, nor such as did not keep to their own parish
churches, i. e. puritans who probably frequented
other churches, instead of that of their own parish,
en account of the character of the several ministers.
Now this royal declaration was not only an inlet
for the eross violation. of the divine command,
^ Remember to keep Hor the sabbath day ;” but
it tended to demoralize the people. It was con-
trary to the king’s proclamation in the first year
of his reign, and to the articles of the Irish Chureh,
rnati&ed under the great seal, 1615, in which the
morality of the Lord's day is afirmed.* But the
Puritens, being the objects of his Majesty's aver-
sion and hatred, by their preaching and practice,
* Article 66. "The first day of the week, which is the
Lord's day, is wholly to be dedicated to the service of God, and
therefore we are bound therein to rest from our common and
daily business, and to bestow that leisure upon holy exercises,
both public and private." |
See the Articles at large in Neal's History of the Puritans,
vol. 6. Appendix iii. |
72 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
were inculcating the strict observance of the
sabbath ; and'therefore the fasts and festivals of
the church were rather neglected, and in order to
counteract this, his Majesty thought proper to
command those idle and vain sports on the Lord’s
day; in order to prevent the growth of Puritanism
and Popery! or, in other words, to prevent the
blessed effects of true religion in the minds of his
subjects, and to encourage all vice and immo-
rality !
This royal declaration was ordered to be read
in all the parish churches of Lancashire, and was
intended to be read in all the churches of
England, but that Archbishop Abbot, being at
Croydon, the day on which it was ordered to be
read in the churches, expressly forbad it to be
read there. Several of the bishops also and.clergy
declared their opinion against this book of sports.
Most probably Dr. Hall disapproved of it highly,
as he afterwards did when Bishop of Exeter;
when he and several of the bishops would not urge
the reading of it, when a second edition of it, revised
and enlarged was set forth by royal authority in
the ninth year of Charles the first. *
The publishing of such a declaration, as it may
* That Bishop Hall was an advocate for the morality of the
sabbath, we may see in an account of the manner of his spend-
ing it, in the 7th vol. of his Works, p. 256.
THE BOOK OF SPORTS. 73
be well imagined, made a great noise: for it was
certainly an imprudent project as well as a source
of grief to all sincere protestants, and friends of
religion. And had the k'ng persisted in ordering
it to be read publicly in all the churches, under
the penalty of suffering from the high commission,
it would probably have produced much greater
convulsions than it did in the following reign,
about fifteen years afterwards. *
It 1s difficult to account for the distinction
between lawful and unlawful sports on the Lord's
day; if any sports are lawful, why not all? No
reason can possibly be given why dancing, revels,
wakes, may games, and such like, should be more
lawful than bear or bull batting, interludes; and
bowls. The nature of both is immoral, for they
have equal tendency to promote vice and'immo-
rality. The exceptions in his Majesty's declara.
tion. are truly extraordinary ; could the king
believe that those who were purttanically inclined,
or who went to other parish churches for their
better edification, would now make use of the
liberty of his declaration, when he must know .
that they conscientiously believed in the morality
of the fourth commandment, and that no ordinance
* Warner's Eccles. Hist. of England, vol.ii, p. 500, — Neal's
Hist. of the Puritans, vol, ii, p. 115.
74 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
i .
of man could make void the law of God? His
majesty also debars recusanés, i. e. papists, from
this liberty, which popery always had indulged
them with; but the .Papist is now to turn Puritan,
with regard to the sabbath, being forbidden the use
of sports and recreations on the Lord's day, in
which he always indulged ; and protestants are to
dance and revel on that sacred day to preserve
them from Puritanis aad Popery: how absurd,
amreasonable, ungodly and profane was this book of
sports of King James I.* When a second edstion
of it was set forth in the next reign, some further
particulars and remarks concerning it will be
given.
In the year 1618, the troubles and disputes
about religious matters began in Holland, between
the Calvinists and Arminians, or, as they were
also termed, remonsirants and conira-remonstrants.
Their controversies were reduced to the following
fixe points;—election—redemption— original sin—
effectual grace—and perseverance. In arder to
decide these difficulties, the States-General
xesolved to convene a national Syned at Dort.
* Dr. Warner in his Eccles. Hist. of England, gives the follow-
ing account of King James I. and his court-—“ It was said that
the court gave a very ill example to the rest of the nation ;
nothing was to be heard there but oaths and language bordering
upon blasphemy, from which the king himself was not free."
Vol. ii, p. 600,
SYNOD OF DORT. 79
And in onder to pwe the gresser lustre and
weight to their detemwination, they requested
some foreign prinoes to send te them the assist-
ance of their divines. King James I. was applied
‘to for some English divines to be sent over, who
was pleased ‘to appemt George Carleton, D. D. -
Bishop of Laudaff, Joseph Hall, D. D. :then
Dean of Worcester, John Davenant, D. D. Mar
garet Professor, and Master of Queen's College,
‘Cambridge, Samuel Ward, D. D. Master of
‘Sydney ‘College, Cambridge, and Archdeacon
of "Taunton.*
These divines, ‘according ‘to their summons,
repaired ‘to the King then at New Market, and
received from him the following instructions
reldtive to their conduct in the synod.
1. * Our will and :pleasure is, that from this
‘time forward upon.all occasions, you inure your-
selves to ithe practice of the Latin tongue, that
When there is cause, you may deliver your minds
with more readiness and facility.
2. ** You shall,.in all points toibe:debated and
disputed, resolve.amongst ‘yourselves! beforehand,
* These four divines-wete distinguished **in their respective
eminences:” * [n Carletono prelucebat Episcopalis gravitas,
in Davenatitio-subaétum judicium; in Wardo multaleetio.: in
Hlallo.expedita conciotratio." Futler’s Worthies, vol. ii, p. 190,
ed. 1811, 4to.
76 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
what is the true state of the question, and jointly
and uniformly agree thereupon.
3. * If in debating of the cause by the learned
men there, any thing be emergent, whereof you
thought not before, you shall meet and consult
thereupon again, and so resolve among yourselves
jointly what is fit to be maintained. And this to
be done agreeable to the Scriptures, and the
doctrine of the Church of England.
' 4. * Your advice shall be to those churches,
that their ministers do not deliver in the pulpit to
the people these things for ordinary doctrines,
which are the highest points of the schools, and
- not fit for vulgar capacity, but disputable. on both
sides.
5. ** That they use no innovation in doctrine,
but teach the same things which were taught
twenty or thirty years past in their own churches,
and especially that which contradicteth not their
own confessions so long since published and
known unto the world.
6. * That they conform themselves to the
public confessions of the neighbour reformed
churches, with whom to hold good correspond-
ency, shall be no dishonour to them.
7. “ That if there be main opposition between
any who are over-much addicted to their own
opinions, your endeavours shall be, that certain
SYNOD OF DORT. 77
positions be moderately laid down, which may
tend to the mitigation of heat on both sides.
8. ‘* That, as you principally look to God's
glory, and the peace of those distracted churches,
so you have an eye to our honour, who send and
employ you thither; and consequently at all
times consult with our Ambassador there residing,
who is best acquainted with the form of those
countries, understandeth well the questions and
differences among them, and shall from time
receive our princely directions, as occasion shall -
require.
9. ‘ Finally, in all other things, which we
cannot foresee, you shall carry yourselves with
that advice, moderation, and discretion as to
persons of your quality and gravity shall apper-
tain."
These divines, after having received his Majes-
ty's instructions, prepared for the voyage; and
the United States sent over a man of war to
Gravesend, to convey them to Holland:* but
accidentally they missed the man of war, and so
were obliged to take their passage over in a small
* * [ have even now letters from the Admiralty at Rotterdam,
that the ship, wherein I passed last into England, shall go pre-
sently over to fetch those reverend persons his Majesty doth
send to the Synod: and I de by this bearer appoint it to
attend their commodity at Gravesend.” Letters from and to
Sir Dudley Carleton, 4to, p. 306,
78 LIFE OF BISHOP. HALL.
vessel, and safely landed Oct. 20, 1618, at Mid-
dleburgh. *
This famous Synod consisted of thirty-six
ministers of the United States, and. five professoxs,
together with. twenty elders: to these were added
twenty-eight foreign divines. Mr. Balcanquel, a
Scots divine, was deputed by his Majesty to .
represent the Kirk in the Synod. The ever-
memorable John Hales also attended the Synod,
not as a member, but was sent by Sir Dudley
Carleton, the English Ambassador in Holland, to
give him an account of what passed in. the
Synod. tf
The English divines being arrived at the Hague,
were introduced to the Assembly of the States on
the 5th of November, by the English Ambas-
sador. They were received with every mark of
distinction: and were allowed by the states, ten
pounds sterling a day: ‘‘ an entertainment,” says
Fuller, far larger than what was appomted to any
other foreign Theologues; and politickly pro-
portioned in grateful consideration of the great-
ness. of his Majesty who employed them. And
these English divines, knowing themselves sent
over not to gain wealth to themsetves, but gtory
* Fuller's Ch. Hist. c. 10, p.78.
t Hale's Golden Remains, p. 454, 8vo, London, 1887. He
was Chaplain to the Ambassador.
SYNOD OF DORT. 79
to God, and repatation to their Sovereign, freely
gave what they had freely received, keeping a
table general, where any fashionable foreigner was
courteously and plentifully entertained.”* ©
It has been said that this Synod was not con-
dacted with impartiality; and that its end and
design was to condemn the Remonstrants. The
majority certainly were Calvinists, or Anti-remon-
strants, and on that account, it may be that the
Remonstrants had no fair play to defend them-
selves, and were also not admitted to. a free
debate.
When all tbe members of the Synod were
assembled, the following Oath was taken by
them in the 23d Session, each person standing
up in his place, and laying his band upon his .
heart :
* [ promise before God, whom I believe and
worship, as here present, and as the searcher of
the reins and heart, that during the whole course
of the transactions of this Synod, in which there
will be made an enquiry into, and judgment and
decision of, not only the well-known five posts,
and all the difficulties resulting from thence, but
likewise of all other sorts of doctrine, I will not
make use of any kind of human writings, but only
* Fuller's Ch. Hist. c. x, p.79.
80 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL,
of the word of God, as a sure and infallible rule of
faith, Neither will I have any other thing. in
view throughout this whole discussion, but the
honour of God, the peace of the church, and
above all, the preservation of the purity of doc-
trine. So keep me my Saviour Jesus Christ,
whom I ardently beseech to assist me in this my
design, by his Holy Spirit.”
John Goodwin, in his book termed Redemption
Redeemed, p. 395, charges the contra-remonstrants
with taking a previous oath to condemn the
opposite party on what terms soever. This must
have been an unjust insinuation. Fuller, the
writer of the Church History, about the time suck
false reports were spread concerning the Synod,
wrote to Dr. Hall, Bishop of Norwich, who was
then alive, 1651, to ask the truth. The aged and
venerable Bishop returned the following full and
satisfactory reply:
** Whereas you desire from me a just relation of
the carriage of the business at the Synod of Dort,
and the conditions required of our Divines there,
at or before their admission to that grave and
learned Assembly: I, whom God was pleased to
employ, as an unworthy agent in that great work,
and to reserve still upon earth, after all my
n the
daily
) you,
SYNOD OF DORT. 81
and (if you will) to the world, that I cannot,
withovt just indignation, read that slanderous
imputation, which Mr. Goodwin, in his Redemp-
tion Redeem’d, reports to have been raised, and
cast upon those Divines, eminent both for learn-
ing and piety, ** That they suffered themselves
to be bound with an Oath, at, or before their
admission into that Synod, to vote down the
Remonstrants howsoever,” so as they came
deeply pregnated to the decision of those unhappy
differences. | |
**'Truly, Sir, as I hope to be saved, all the Oath
that was required was this : after that the Mode-
rator, Ássistants, and Scribes were chosen, and
the Synod formed, and the several members
allowed, there was a solemn Oath required to be
taken by every one of that Assembly, which was
publicly done in a grave manner, by every person
in their order, standing up, and laying his hand
upon his heart, calling the great God of heaven to
witness, that he would impartially proceed in
the judgment of these controversies, which should
be laid before him, only out of, and according to
the written word of God, and no otherwise, so
determining of them, as he should find in his
conscience most agreeable to the Holy Scriptures,
which Oath was punctually agreed to be thus
taken by the Articles of the States, concerning
G =
82 LIFE OF BISHOP BALL,
the indiction, and ordering of the Synod, as
' appears plainly in their tenth Article; and this
was all the Oath that was either taken, or
required. And far was. it from those holy
souls, which are now glorious in heaven, or mine
(who still for some short time survive, to give this
just. witness of our sincere integrity) to entertain
the least thought of any so foul corruption, as by
any over-ruling power to be swayed to a prejudg-
ment in the points controverted. |
* It grieves my soul therefore to see, that any
learned Divine should raise imaginary conjectures
to himself, of an interest and obligation of a
fancied Oath (working upon them, and drawing
them contrary to the dictation of their own con
science, as it did Herod’s in the.case of John
Baptist’s beheading) merely out of his own com
parative construction of the different forms .of
expressing themselves in managing those contro-
versies. Wherein if at any time they seemed to
speak nearer to the Tenet of the Remonstrants,
it must be imputed to their holy ingenuity, and
gracious disposition to peace, and to no other
sinister respect.
* Sir, since I have lived to see so foul an asper-
sion cast upon the memory of those worthy and
eminent Divines, I bless God that I yet live to
vindicate them, by this my knowing, clear, and
. SYNOD OF DORT. 83
assured: attestation ; which I am ready to second
with the solemmest Oath, if I shall. be thereto
required. .
Your much devoted friend, precessor,
and fellow labourer,
August 30, 1651. JOSEPH HALL, B.N.
. Fuller makes the following pertment remarks
upon the above epistle: ** Let.the reader weigh
in the balance'of his judgment, how this purgation
of the Synod of Dort is positive, and punctual,
from one, an eat and eye witness thereof, being
such an one as Dr. Hall, the' aged; so that his
testimontum herein, may seem festamenium : his
witness his will, and the truth therein delivered, a
legacy: by him bequeathed to ‘posterity. * |
After being at the Syhod. for about two
months, .--Dr. Hall found that the air of Dort did
not agree with him: the noise and unquietness of
the place did also so disturb his rest, that he was
reduced to great debility. The other. English
divines therefore wrote te the English Ambas-
sador, Sir Dudley Carleton, that he desired leave
to return to England, and they recommended in.
his room Dr. Goad, Chaplain to- the Archbishop
* Ch. Hist. b. x, p. 86.
G2
84 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
of Canterbury ; they also requested his excellency
to write to the Archbishop, to procure that favor
from the King. But the Prince of Orange was
not willing that Dr. Hall should return, he there-
fore wished him to: come to the Hague, to try
whether change of air would do him good ; and
in the mean time, if it would please the king to
send Dr. Goad, and if Dr. Hall would recover
his health, they might enjoy the benefit of the
assistance of: both.
The: assistance of the English divines in the
transactions of the Synod was considerable and
duly: estimated. Upon several occasions they
gave satisfactory proof of their abilities, . suffi-
clency, and discretion. "The other Foreign and
Dutch divines were in a great measure guided by:
the: English, so that they rather ‘wished. their
. number augmented than diminished : particularly
they were very unwilling to spare Dr. Hall, "who
was highly respected and esteemed by them. *
- * By that time," continues the narrative, “ I
had staid some two months there, the unquietness
of the nights.in those garrison towns working
on the tender disposition of my body, brought
me to such weakness through want of rest, that
* See Letters from and to Sir Dudley Carleton, 4to. 1776.
Second Edition.
SYNOD OF DORT. 85
it began to disable me from attending the
Synod: which yet, as I might, I forced myself’
unto; as wishing that my zeal could have dis-
countenanced my infirmity. Where, in the mean
time, it is well worthy of my thankfal .remem-
brance, that, being in an afflicted and languishing
condition for a fortnight together, with that sleep-
less distemper, yet it pleased God, the very. night :
before I was to preach the Latin sermon to the
Synod, to bestow on me such a comfortable
refreshing of sufficient sleep, as whereby my
spirits were revived, and I was enabled with much
vigor and vivacity to perform that service: which
was no sooner done, than my former complaint
renewed on. me, and prevailed against all the
remedies that.the counsel of physicians . could
advise me unto; so as, after long strife, I was
compelled to yield unto a retirement, for the time,
to the Hague; to see if change of place and
more careful attendance, which I had in the
house of our Right Honorable Ambassador, the
Lord Carleton, now Viscount Dorchester, might
recover me. But when, notwithstanding all means,
my weakness increased so far, as that there was
small likelihood left of so much strength remainmg
as might bring me back into England, it pleased
his gracious Majesty, by.our noble Ambassador's
solicitation, to call me off; and to substitute a
worthy divine, Dr. Goade,.in my. unwilling for-
86 — LIFE OF BISHOP HALL,
saken room. Returning by Dort, I sent in my
'sad farewell to that grave assembly; who, by
common vote, sent to me the president of the
Synod and the assistants with a respective and
gracious valediction. ‘Neither did the deputies
of my lords the States neglect, after a very
respectful compliment sent from them to me by
Daniel Heinsius, to visit me: and, after a noble
acknowledgment of more good service from me
than I durst own, dismissed me with a henour-
able retribution; and sent after me a rich medal
of gold* the portraiture of the Synod, for a pre-
cious monument of their respects to my poor
endeavours: who failed not, while 1 was at the
Hague, to impart unto them my poor advice con-
cerning the proceeding'of that synodical meeting.
The difficulties of. my return, in such weakness,
were many and great; wherein, if ever, God
manifested his special providence to me, in over-
ruling the cross accidents of that passage: and,
after many dangers and despairs, contriving my
safe arrival." |
^ * This medal, which the Bishop used to wear suspended-on
his breast, as appears by some of his portraityres, came into
the possession’ of the family of Jermy, of Bayfield Hall, near
Holt, .in..the County ef Nosfolk; ‘and was bequeathed by
William Jermy, Esq. at his.death, which happened jy January
1750, (Gent. Magazine) to Emmanuel College, Cambridge. See '
Master's History of Bene't. College, Cambridge, p..367.
e
SYNOD OF DORT. 87
It was on Nov. 29, 1418, being the sixteenth
session of the Synod, that Dr. Hall preached
his Latin Sermon before this famous assembly.
But his disorder again recurred, which eventually
obliged him: to etum to his native air. He
preached from Eccles. vii, 16. Be not righteous
overmuch, neither make thyself overwtse. He
observed, among many excellent things, that
** there were two sorts of theology, scholastic and
popular, the one respects the foundation, the
other the form: and -orpaments of the building:
the one relates to the things, which ought to
be known, the other to things which may be
known: the knowledge of the one makes a.
christian; .of the other, a disputer. . Or, the one
makes a divine, the other polishes him. That if
St. Paul: should come into the world again, he
would not understand the subtle disputes between
the Jesuits and the Dominicans; That the
Catechism of the Apostles consisted only of six
articles: that the medern theology was like the
quantity of Mathematicians, which is divisible in
infinitwn." He concluded with an earnest exhor-
tation to peace and unanimity among christians:
« study to be quiet,” ‘anid he, puro iet Out "wx Hy,
* we are brethren, let us be fellow servants,
what have we to do with the infamous title of
remonstrants, and comtra-remonsirante, of Calvin-
ists and Arminans. We are christians, let us be
88 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
like-mmded, sco}vxo. We are one body, let us be
of one mind. I beseech you, brethren, by the tre-
mendous name of God, by the pious and cher-
ishing bosom of our common mother, (the church;)
by your own souls, by the most holy bowels of
our Saviour Jesus Christ, promote peace.” For
this excellent discourse, thanks. were publicly
given him; and it was printed in the transactions
of the Synod;* and it is for the first time printed
apart in the Appendix to this volume.
After being kindly taken care of, in the house
of the English Ambassador for some weeks, Dr.
Hall still continued very weak ; the king therefore
granted him leave to return as soon as his strength
would permit. When he so far recovered as to
be able to be removed, he returned by Dort, and;
“with a becoming gravity, publicly took his
. solemn farewell of the Synod” with the following
Latin speech:
* Non facilé veró mecum in gratiam redierit
cadaverosa hsec moles, quam egré usque cir-
cumgesto, qua mihi hujus Conventus celebritatem
toties inviderit, jamque prorsus invitissimum à
vobis importune avocat, et divellit Neque
enim ullus est profectó sub colo locus equé coeli
* See Acta Synodi Nationalis Dordrechtone, p.38. ed.
1620. fol.
SYNOD OF. DORT.. 89
emulus, et in quo tentorium mihi figi maluerim,
cujusque adeo gestiet mihi animus meminisse.
Beatos veró vos, quibus hoc frui.datum! non
dignus eram ego (ut fidelissimi Romani querimo-
niam imitari liceat). qui et Christi, et Ecclesie sue
nomine, sanctam hane provinciam diutius susti-
nerem. lllud vero 8: » yeas. Nempe audito,
quod res erat, non alia me quàm adversissima hic
usum valetudine, Serenissimus Rex meus misertus
miselli famuli sui, revocat me domum,: quippe
quód cineres meos, aut sandapilum vobis nihil
quicquam prodesse posse nórit, succenturiavitque
mihi virum é suis selectissimum, quantum Theo-
logum. De me profectó (mero. jam. silicernio)
quicquid fiat, viderit ille Deus meus, cujus ego
totus sum. . Vobis quidem ita feliciter prospectum
est, ut sit cur infirmitati mee haud parim gratu-
lemini, quam hujusmodi instructissimo succedaneo
cetum hunc vestrum. beaverit. Neque tamen
committam (si Deus mihi vitam, et vires indul-
serit) ut et corpore. simul, et animo.abesse videar.
Intereà sané huic, Synodo, ubicunque terrarum
sum, et vobis, consiliis conatibusque meis quibus-
cunque, res vestras me, pro virili, seduló, ac serió
promoturum, sancté voveo. Interim vobis omni-
bus, ac singulis, Honoratissimi Domini Delegati,
Reverendissime Preses, Gravissimi Assessores,
Scribe doctissimi, Symmyste colendissimi, Tibi-
que, Venerandissima Synodus universa, «gro
90, LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
animo ac corpore. s&ternüm valedico. Rogo vos
emnes obnixiüs, wt precibus vestris imbecillem
reducem facere, comitari, prosequi velitis."
The Synod continued from Nov. 13, 1618, to
May 29, 1619. The EBnghsh divines agreed in
approving the Belgic confession of faith, and the
Heidelberg Catechism. The five points of differ-
ence between the Calvinists and -Arminians were -
decided 1n-faver of the former. Afterwards the
remonstrant divines were dismissed the assembly,
aud banished the country within a limited time.
The deprivations and banishments, which fol-
lowed the. decision of the Synod, of sach eminent
men, as: Episcopius, Uytenbogart, Corvenus, &c.
and the persecution, which ‘ensued throughout
the united states against the Arminians, greatly
diminish the goed opinion we might otherwise
form of the Synod, and of its transactions. .Many
of the divines . undoubtedly meant well; but the
mischief was, there were worldly views and state
policy interwoven with its religious acts. * -
When the opinions of the British divines upon
the extent of Chnist’s redemption were: read, it
was observed that they omitted the distinction
between the sufficieucy and efficacy of it; nor did
they touch upon the limitation of those passages
* See Harris's Life of Jaxnes 1, p. 152.
SYNOD OF DORT. 91
of Scripture, which, speaking of Christ's dying,
for &he whole world, are frequently interpreted of
the world of the elect. Dr. Davenant and some of
his brethren inclined to the doctrine of universal
redemption : he.and Dr. Ward were for a middle
way between the two extremes; they maintained
the eertainty of the‘salvation of the elect, and that
offers of pardon were sent net only to.all who
should. believe. and .repent, but to all. who hear
the gospel ; and that grace sufficient to .convince
and persuade the. impewitemt (so as to lay. the
blame of their condemnation upon themselves)
went along.with these offers: that the redemption
of :Christ and his merits were applicable to these,
and consequently.there was .a possibility of their
salvation: ‘They however complied .with the
Synod, and-.agreed to their confession, .as in
general agreeable to the word.of God. But some
years after, a report arose that they. had deserted
the doctrine of the Church of Eagland, upon
which Dr. Hall expressed, his concern to Dr.
Davenant in-these words—* I will live and die in
the suffrage of that Synod of Dort; and I do
confidently .avow, that those other opinions (of
Arminius) cannot stand. with the doctrine of the
Church ef England." To which Dr. Davenant
replied, “I know that no man can embrace
Arminianism inthe doctrines of predestination and
gmce, but he must desert the articles agreed upon
92 | LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
by the Church. of, England; nor in the point, of
perseverance, but he must vary from the received
opinions of our best approved doctors in the
English Church.”
The narrative continues :—
* After not many years' settling at home, it
grieved:my soul to see our own church begin to
sicken of the same disease which we had endea-
voured to cure in our neighbors.. Mr. Montague's
tart and vehement assertions. of some positions,
near of kin to the remonstrants of Netherland,
gave occasion of raising no small broil in. the
church. Sides. were taken: pulpits every where
rang of these opinions: but parliaments took
notice of the division, and questioned the occa-
sioner. Now, as one that desired to do. all good.
offices to our dear and common mother, I set my
thoughts on work how. so dangerous. a quarrel
might be happily composed: and, finding that
mistaking was more guilty of this dissention than
misbelieving (since it plainly appeared, to me, that —
Mr. Montague meant to express, not Arminius,
but B. Overall, a more moderate and safe author,
however he sped in delivery of him,) I wrote a
little project of pacification, wherein I desired to
rectify the judgment of men concerning this
mis-apprehended controversy ; showing them the
true party in this unseasonable plea: and, because _
HIS VIA MEDIA. 93
B. Overall *- went a midway betwixt the two
opinions which he held extreme, and must needs
therefore somewhat’ differ from the commonly-
received tenet in these. points, 1 gathered out of
B. Overall on the one side, and out of our English
divines at Dort on the other, such common pro-
positions: concerning these five busy articles as
wherein both of them are fully agreed. All which
. being put together, seemed unto me to make up
so sufficient a body of accorded truth, that all
other questions moved hereabouts appeared
merely superfluous; and every moderate Chris-
tian miglit find where to rest himself, without
hazard of contradiction. These I made bold, by
the hands of Dr. Young the worthy Dean of
Winchestér, to present to his excellent Majesty,
together with an humble motion of a peaceable
silence to be enjoined. to both parts, in those
other collateral and needless disquisitions : which,
if they might benefit the schools of academical
disputants, could not certainly sound well from
the pulpits of popular -auditories. Those recon-
ciliatory papers fell. under the eyes of some grave
divines on both parts. Mr. Montague professed
that he had seen: them, and would subscribe to
—.* He was one of the most profound school divines of the
English nation. He was employed in the translation of the
Bible; and wrote the sacramental part of the Church Catechism.
94 LIFE OF BISHOP WALL.
them ‘very willingly: others, that were contrarily
minded, both English, Scottish, and : French
divines, proferred. their: hands to: a no less ready
subscription.: So as mach’ peace promised" to
result, out of that weak: and‘ poor enterprise, had
not:the confased noise of the miscoristructions of
those ‘who: never saw ‘the work, crying it dowd
for the very name’s sake, meeting with the royal
edict of a general inhibition, buried: it in. a secure
silence.” '
, “J was scorched a little with this flame, which .
I desired to quench: yet this.could not stay my
hand from thrusting itself into a hotter'fire."
- * Some insolent Romanists; Jesuits especially,
in their bold disputations (which, in the time of the
treaty of the Spanish match and: the calm of that
relaxation, ‘were very frequent,) pressed ‘nothing
se‘much. as a. catalogue of the professors of our
religion to be. deduced from the ‘primitive times:
and, with:the peremptory challenge of the impos-
sibility of this pedigree, dazzled the eyes: of the
simple: while some of our learned men, : under:
taking to satisfy so needless: and unjust a demand,
gave, as I conceived, great advantage to the
adversary: In a just indignation to see us. thus
wronged by misstating the question betwixt us, as
if we, yielding ourselves of another church, origi-
nally and fundamentally different, should make
good our. own erection on the ruins, yea, the
AGAINST THE PAPISTSi 06
nullity of theirs ; and well considering the infinite
and great inconveniences, that must needs follow
on this defence; I adventured to set my pen on
work; desiring to rectify the opinions of those
men, whom an ignorant zeal had transported, to
the prejudice of our holy cause: laymg forth the
damnable corruptions of the Roman :hurch, yet
making our game of the outward: visibility
thereof; aud, by this means, putting them. to the
probation of those newly-obtruded corruptions,
which are truly: guilty of the breach. betwixt us.
The dsift whereof being not: well conceived: by
some. spirits.that were not so wise as fervent, I
was: suddenly exposed te the rash censures of
many well-affected and zealous Protestants; as if
I had; in a remission to my wonted zeal to the
truth, attributed too:mueh to. the. Roman church,
and strengthened. the adversaries’ hands, and
weakened our own; Thid eavy l was fam to take
off, by my speedy Apologeticat: Advertisement;
and, after that; by my Recoriciler, seconded with
the unanimous letters of such. reverend, learned,
sound divines,.* both. bishops amd doctors, as
whose undoubtable authority was able to. bear
down calumny itself: which done, I did, by. a
seasonable moderation, ' provide. for the. peace
* B. Morton, B. Davenant, ‘Dr. Prideaux, Dr. Primrose.
96 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
of the church, in silencing both my defendants |
and challengers, in this unkind and ill-raised :
quarrel."
To this hasty sketch of the Bishop’s, some
further particulars may be added.
Popery at this time was gaining ground in many
places; a book was published by a papist, enti-
tled, A New Gag for the Old Gospel, which
Mr. Richard Montague, Rector of Stamford-
Rivers in Essex, undertook to answer in the year
1623, by a book, called, 4 New Gag for an Old
Goose. This reply gave a great offence to many
of the clergy. It was written in a satyrical
manner, for Mr. Montague's ink was generally
mingled with much gall: and its tendency was,
in:a great measure, to promote Popery and
Arminianism. This book ocgasioned much noise,
and “no small broil in the church." Two divines
of the diocese of Norwich, Mr. Ward and Mr.
Gates, undertook to extract the Popish and
Arminian tenets out of it, in order to lay them
before Parliament; and the charge of propagating
‘Popish and Arminian errors, and of deserting
instead of defending the cause of the church, was
made to Parliament against Mr. Montague. He
was therefore examined at the bar of the house,
and referred to the Archbishop of Canterbury,
who expressly prohibited him to write any more
MONTAGUE’S WRITINGS. 97
on such subjects. But the king openly protected
him, and approved of his sentiments. Being thus
encouraged by his Majesty, Mr. Montague wrote a
vindication of himself in a work, intitled, Appello
Casarem; or Appeal to Casar, and designed
it for King James ; but he died. before the book
was published, it was. therefore dedicated to
Charles I. This appeal was calculated to attempt
a reconciliation with Rome, to promote Arminian-
ism, and to advance the king's prerogative above
law. The house appointed a committee to
examine into its errors ;—afterwards they voted it
contrary to the articles of the Church of England,
and bound the author in a recognizance of £2000
for his appearance. *
Dr. Laud, then Bishop of St. David’ s, and the
Bishops of Rochester and Oxford, joined in a
letterT to the Duke of Buckingham, to prevail on
his Majesty to take the cause of Mr. Montague
into his own hands. This letter had its desired
effect, and procured quietness to him. His
Majesty declared he would bring the cause before
the council, it being a branch of his supremacy to
determine matters of religion. He expressed his
* Neale's History of the Puritans, vol. ii, p. 161.
t See the Letter in Heylin’s Life of Archbishop Laud, pp.
136, 137,
H
98 LIFE ©F BISHOP WALL.
displeasure ‘against the commons for calling his
chaplain to their bar.
King James I. died March 27, 1625, in the
59th year of hisage. ‘The Church of England,”
says Harris, * under James, was in a happy
state, being highly praised, protected, and favoured
by him.”* Dr. Hall, in a sermon preached to his
Majesty, at the court of Whitehall, Aug. 8, 1694,
says, * England was once, yea, lately was, per-
haps is still, the most flourishing church under
heaven; that I may take up the prophet's words;
the glory of churches, the beauty of éxcellency.
Isa. xiii, 19. But sectaries were then increasing,
and threatening to disturb the peace and unity of
the church; that he farther says, ** what it may
be, what it will be, if we fall stilt into distractions
and various sects, God knows, and it is not hard
for men to foresee. Surely, if we grow into that
anarchical fashion of irnidependerit congregations,
which I see, and lament to see, affected by too
many, not without woeful success ; we are gone,
we are lost, in a most miserable confusion: we
shall be, as when God overthrew Sodom and
Gomorrah ; and it shall be with us, as the prophet
speaks of proud and glorious Babylon, the shep-
herds shall not make their fold there: wild beasts
* Life of James I. pp. 267, ác.
PANEGYRICS ON JAMES I. . 99
of the desert shail lie there, and our houses shall be
full of doleful creatures; and owls. shall dwell, and
satyrs shall dance there ; and the wild beasts of the
islands shall cry in our desela(e. palaces. Isa. xiii,
20, 21. I take no pleasure, God knows, to omi-
nate ill. to my dear nation, and my dear mother:
the Church of England ; for.whose welfare and
happiness I could contemn my own life: but I
speak in a true: sorrow. of heart t9 perceive our
danger, and in a zealous precaution to prevent
it.”* Dr. Hall lived to see this. prediction
fully accomplished, as it will be seen in the
subsequent pages of this volume, and-as he
himself with his own pen has narrated in his |
* Account of Himself,” and in his “ Hard
Measure." |
It was one of the errors of the times in which
Dr. Hall lived, to heap the most fulsome flattery
upon the. sovereign, and great personages: and
it must be recorded that Hall. has. fallen,
as well as his contemporaries, into this then
fashionable error. Hissermon, entitled, * A HOLY
PANEGYRIC," preached at Paul's Cross, upon the
anniversary of the inauguration of James 1, March
24, 1613, is full of gross adulation, though in
other respects an excellent and elegant discourse.
* See Bishop Hall's Works, vol. v, p.236.
H 2
100 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
The same adulatory taint is perceivable here and.
there in some other parts of Dr. Hall’s writings.
But, that the reader may have a full specimen of
this error of the times, we shall here subjoin, as a
great curiosity, the funeral sermon of King James
‘I. preached by Dr. Williams, Bishop of Lincoln,
and Lord Keeper. The sermon is intitled,
GREAT BRITAIN'S SOLOMON, and is full of the
most gross flattery, and palpable untruths. The
text was 1 Kings xi, 41, 42, 43, And the rest of
the words of Solomon, and all that he did, and his
wisdom, are they not written in the book of the acts
of Solomon? And the time that Solomon reigned in
Jerusalem over all Israel was forty years. And
Solomon slept with his fathers, and was buried in
the city of David his father. After having men-
tioned the text, the preacher begins thus :: * Most
high and mighty, most honourable, worshipful
and well.beloved in our Lord, and Saviour Jesus
Christ ; it is not I, but this woeful accident that
chuseth this text." He proceeds then to consider
it as applicable to Solomon ; and afterwards com-
pares him and James, “ first as it were in one
general lump, or mould,” says he, ** that you may
see by the oddness of their proportion, how they
differ from all kings besides. And then with a
particular examination of the parts of my text,
that you may observe by the several members,
. how well they resemble the one the other.
PANEGYRICS ON JAMES I. 101
* For tbe bulke or the mould, I dare presume
to say, you never read in your lives, of two kings
more fully paralelled amongst themselves, and
better distinguished from all other kings besides
themselves. King Solomon is said to be unigeni-
tus coram matre sud, the only son of his mother,
Prov.iv, 3. So was king James. Solomon was
of a complexion white and ruddy, Cant.v, 10.
So was. King James. Solomon was an infant
king, puer parvulus, a little child, 1 Chron. xxii, 5.
So was King James, a king at the age of thirteen
months. Solomon began his reign in the life of
his predecessor, 1 Kingsi, 32. So, by the force
and compulsion of thatstate, did our late sovereign
King James. Solomon was twice crowned, and
anointed a king, 1 Chron. xxix, 22. So was King
James. Solomon's minority was rough through
the quarrels of the former sovereign." So was that
of King James. Soloinon was learned above all
the princes of the east, 1 Kingsiv, 30. So was
King James above all the princes in the universal
world. Solomon was a writer in prose and verse,
1 Kings iv, 32. So in a very pure and exquisite
manner was our sweet sovereign King James.
Solomon was the greatest patron we ever heard
of, to church and churchmen ; and yet no greater
(let the house of Aaron now confess) than King
James. Solomon was a main improver of his
home commodities, as you may see in his trading -
102 - LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
with Hiram, 1 Kings v,9; and, God knows it
was the daily study of King James. ‘Solomon
was a-great maintainer of shipping and navigation,
1 Kings x, 14; a most proper attribute to King
James. . Solomon beautified very much his capital
city, with buildings and water-works, 1 Kings ix,
15. 'So.did King James.. Every man lived in
peaee under his vine, and his fig-tree, in the days
of Solomon, 1. Kingsiv, 25; and so they did in the
blessed days of King James. And yet towards
liis end, King Solomon had secret enemies, Razan,
Hadad, and. Jeroboam, and. prepared for a. war
tipon his going to his grave. So had, and so did
King James. Lastly, before any hostile act we
read of in the history, King Solomon died in
peace, when he had lived about sixty years, and
so you know did King James."
The preacher proceeds according to the method.
of his text, **to polish and refine the members of
this statue in their division and particulars." “In
liis stile," says he, * you may observe the Eccle-
siastes, in his figures the Canticles, in his sen-.
tences:the Proverbs, and in his whole discourse,
reliquum verborum Solomonis, all the rest that was
admirable in ‘the eloquence of Solomon. . From
his sayings, I come to his doings. Que fecerit,
all. that he did. Every action of his. sacred
majesty was a virtue, and a. miracle to exempt
him from any parallel amongst the modern kings
|^ PANEGYRICS ON JAMES I. 103
and princes. Of all christian kings that ever I
read of, he was the most constant patron of
churches and churchmen. I will speak it boldly,
in the presence .here of God and men, that I
believe in my soul and comscience, there never
lived a.more constant, resolute, and settled pro-
testant in point. of doctrine, than our late sove-
reign. Through all Europe, no more question
was made of his being just, than of his being
king. He was resolute enough, and somewhat
teo forward in those.unapproachable places, (the
Highlands,) scattering his enemies .as much with
his example, as he did with his forces. Besides
these adventures of his person, he was unto his
people, to -the hour of his. death, another cheru-
bim with a flaming sword, to keep out enemies
from this paradise of ours."
After flourishing upon his political wisdom and
learned. works, ,he goes on to let his hearers
know, “ that as-he lived like.a king, so he died
like .a saint. ‘All his latter days he spent in
prayer, sending. his thoughts before into heaven,
to be-the harbingers of his.happy.soul. Some four
days before bis end, he desired to receive the
blessed. sacrament, and said he was prepared for
it by faith and .charity. .He.repeated the articles
of the creed, and .after the absolution had been
read and pronounced, he received the sacrament
with that zeal and devotion, .as if he had not been
104 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
a ‘frail.man, but a cherubim clothed with flesh
and blood, he twice or thrice repeated Domine
Jesu, veni cito; and after the prayer usually said
at the hour of death was ended, his lords and
servants kneeling, without any pangs or convul-
sions at all, dormivit Solomon, Solomon slept.
And his soul, severed from the dregs of the body,
doth now enjoy an eternal dreaming in the pre-
sence of God, environed no more with lords and
knights, but with troops of Angels, and the souls
of the blessed, called in this text his fore-runners
or. fathers; and Solomon slept with his fathers." *
This was the character given.of King James I.
before an auditory, who must have known him
well:—every reader must think it nothing else
but a panegyrical harangue, full of adulation and
exaggeration.
At the convocation cotemporary with the par-
liament in the year 1623--4, Feb. 20, Dr. Hall
preached a Latin Sermon in St. Paul's cathedral.
The title of the sermon is Noah’s dove bringing
an olive of. peace to the tossed Ark of Christ's
church. The text is 1 Cor. xii, 4. There are
diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit; there are
diversities of ministers, but the same Lord; and
there are diversities of operations, but the same God.
* Harris's Life of James I. pp. 288-291.
SERMONS. 105
This sermon was composed and written in
elegant and pure Latin, and was translated into
‘English by Dr. Hall’s eldest son, ‘Robert: “it
pleased my father," says the son, herein to
improve my leisure; wherein howsoever I may
have somewhat failed of the first elegance, yet I
have not been far short of the sense." Prefixed
.to this sermon are some commendatory Latin
verses, by Dr. Goad, chaplain to the Archbishop
of Canterbury. * |
On St. Stephen's day, 1623, Dr. Hall preached
from Hag. ii, 9, *at the solemn reconciling” of
the restored and re-edified chapel of St. John's in
the house of the Rt. Hon. the Earl of Exeter in
Clerkenwell. 'This chapel was repaired by Lady
Elizabeth Drury, Countess of Exeter, to whom
Dr. Hall dedicated his sermon on the occasion,
and to whose family of the Drurys he was
indebted for his first patronage. *
* Bishop Hall's Works, vol. v, p. 148.
* This chapel was on the site of the ruined choir of the
Priory of St. John of Jerusalem ; ** a place," says Fuller, in his
Ch. Hist. b. vi, pp. 357, 360, “in a pitiful plight, when the
hospitalers of St. John of Jerusalem were first restored by
Queen: Mary ;. for the bell tower of the church was undermined
and blown up with gun-powder, that the stones thereof might
build Somerset-house in the Strand."
Jordan Bisset, a pious and wealthy man, who died Nov. 15,
1110, and was buried in the Chapter House of this Priory, was
‘the founder of it. He built an house for the Knight's Hospi-
106 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL,
When the parliament met, Feb. 6, 1626, a
committee of religion was appointed, of which
Mr. Pym was the chairman, with the view of
examining .once more Mr. Montague’s Gag,
Appeal, and. his Treatise of the Invocation of the
Saints ; aut of these works they collected several
opinions contrary to the articles and homilies. of
the church. But.after all, Mr. Montague was not
brought to his trial; King Charles I. intimated his
displeasure at the proceedings of the commons,
talers of St. John of Jerusalem, which was improved into the
stateliness of a palace, and had a very beautiful church with a
high tower.so neatly carried up, that while it stood, it was a
singular ornament to the city. The Knights Hospitalers of
St. John of Jerusalem, were instituted:übout the time Geoffrey
of Boulogne had recovered Jerusalem. They wore a white
cross upon their upper black garment, and by solemn profession
were bound to serye pilgrims and poor. people in the: hospital
of St. John, and to secure the passages thither: they charitably
buried the dead, were continual in prayer, mortified themselves
with watchings and fastings, were courteous and kind to the
poor, whom they called their masters, and fed with white
bread, while they lived themselves on brown, and practised
great austerity. At first they were but poor; for their piety
and bravery in war, their condition was much changed through
the bounty of good princes and private persons, that they
. became to abound in every thing. For about the year 1240
they had nineteen thousand Lordships or Manors within Chris-
tendom, as the Templars had nine thousand, whose revenues
here in England fell also afterwards to the Hospitalers. This
vast increase of revenues made them so effectual a passage to
great honors, that their Prior was reckoned the first Baron of
England, and lived in great state and plenty, till the dissolution
of religious houses by Henry VIII. See Camden's Britannia,
P. 321-2, fol. ed. 1695, and ** Magna Britannia," vol. iii, p. 58,
ed. 1724. .
MONTAGUE’S WRITINGS. 107
and that he would take the cause ànto his own
hands. .Many books were written against Mr.
Montague, by Dr. Carleton, Bishop of Chichester,
Dr. Sutliffe, Dean of Exeter, Dr. Featley, .and
many others. After all, the differences were
rather increased than diminished. "The points of
controversy became-so mach the subject of public
discussion, that.his Majesty issued a proclama-
tion, prohibiting te preach or dispute upon the
points in controversy between the Calvinists and
Arminians,:and threatening to proceed against all
who should maintain any opinions contrary to the
doctrines established by law.
The Church of. England was now sick of the
Belgic. disease: ‘‘ I. mean," says Dr. Hall, ** the
distemper arising from the difference about the
five controverted Articles of the Netherlands.
The pulpits and presses-Jaboured of it, in much
extremity :. it pleased wise and judicious sove-
reignty, upon knowledge of the woeful effects
which had followed those unhappy controversies
abroad, to, give. charge, that those questions
should not be further stirred in, whether in
sermons or writings; and the articles of the
Church of England should be the just.limits of all
our public discourse in this.kind." It appears
that this royal declaration had a good effect, for
he proceeds to say, “and what a calm followed
108 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
upon this prudent declaration, our fresh memory
can abundantly testify.” *
Dr. Hall was inclined to be moderate in the
controverted five pomts. During the broils and
disputes about the dogmas of Calvin and Armi-
nius at the end of James l.s reign, and the com-
mencement of that of Charles I. Dr. Hall wrote
and published his treatise upon the subject, under
the title of Fa Media, the way.of peace. ‘This
excellent tractate was published in the reign of
King James, and probably previous to his
Majesty's injunctions, set forth in August 1622,
against meddling with the controverted points, as
it appears from the dedication ‘to the king's
most excellent majesty,” prefixed to Via Media,
where the author implores his ** Majesty's season-
able prevention," of the impending storm. “I
see,” says he, ‘every man ready to rank himself
unto a side, and to draw in the quarrel he affect-
eth; I see no man thrusting himself between
them, and either holding or joining their hands .
for peace." The design of Dr. Hall in this trea-
tise, is to attempt pacifying and healing the violent
and extreme dissentions, which then so greatly
disturbed:the peace of the church. It evinces the
* excellent moderation" of Dr. Hall * in those
* Bishop Hall's Works, vol. viii, p. 97.
HIS. VIA MEDIA. 109
unhappy disputes. He here collects from the
writings of Bishop Overall on the one side, and
of the English divines at the Synod of Dort on
the other side, such propositions or arguments
respecting the five controversial points, upon
which both sides agree. This ‘collection of
accorded truths," he presented to his Majesty,
* together with an humble motion of a peaceable
silence to be enjoined to both parts, in those
other collateral and needless disquisitions.” Many
divines, and even Mr. Montague himself, offered
readily to subscribe them ; so that peace would
have been likely to be obtained, “had not the
confased noise of the misconstruction of those
who ‘never saw the work, crying it down for the
very names sake,” and his Majesty's prohibition
above mentioned, “ buried it in a secure silence.”
This admirable tractate breathes the very sen-
timents of our church, and is well adapted to
allay: the disputes about the Arminian and Cal-
vinistic points, which have too much disturbed
the peace of the religious world to this very day.
With respect to the controverted points, Dr. Hall
says, ‘‘ what place soever these differences have
found in foreign. schools: and pulpits, ours have
reason to be free: if we shall listen to that wise
and moderate voice of our church, that men are
$0 stirred and moved by grace that they may, if
they’ attend thereunto, obey the grace, which
110 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
calleth-and moveth ‘them’; and that they may, by
their free will also resist/it; but, withal that God,
when he will, and to whom he will, gives such an
abundant, such powerful, such:congruous, other-
wise effectual grace, that, although.the will may
in respect" of the liberty thereof resist; yet it
resists not, but doth certainly and infallibly obey;
and that thus God deals with those, whom he
hath chosen in Christ, so far as shall be necessary
to their salvation.” And, again, ** my brethren,"-
says he, * let our care be to study and to preach
Christ and him crueified : to work the souls of
men to faith, repentance, piety, justice, charity,
temperance, and other heavenly virtues; thatthey .
may find cordial testimonies in themselves, of their
happy predestination to life, and. their infallible -
interest in the precious blood of their redeemer.
Let us beat down those sins in them, which make
them obnoxious to everlasting damnation, and
strip them of all comfortable assurances of the
favor of God. Let us not undiscreetly spend our
time and pains, in distracting their thoughts with
those scholastic disquisitions, whereof the know-
ledge or ignorance makes nothing to heaven.
The way to blessedness is not so short, that we
should find leisure to make outroads into needless
and unprofitable speculations. Never treatise
could be more necessary, in. this curious and
quarrelsome age, than De paucitate credendorum.
HIS VIA MEDIA. 111
The infinite subdivisions of those points, which we
advance to the honour of being the objects of our
belief, confound our thoughts and mar our peace.
Peaceable discourse may have much latitude, but
matter of faith should have narrow bounds. If,
in the other, men will abound in their own sense,
always let unity of spirit he held in the bond of
peace. Since God hath given us change of
raiment and variety of all intellectual provisions,
as Joseph said to his brethren, let me to mine,
Let us not fall out by the way. Now, by the dear
bonds of brotherhood, by our love to our common
mother, the church, by our holy care and zeal of
the prosperous success of the gospel of our Lord
Jesus, let us all compose our hearts to peace;
and rest ourselves in those common truths, which
sober minds shall find abundantly sufficient,
whether for our knowledge or salvation." *
* See this excellent 'Fractate, called Pis Media, in vol. ix. of
the Bishop's Works.
CHAPTER III.
ee
The Bishop continues his narrative :—
‘Immediately before the publishing of this
tractate (which did not a little aggravate the envy
and suspicion,) I was by his Majesty raised to
the bishoprick of Exeter; having formerly, with
much humble deprecation, refused the see of
Gloucester earnestly proffered unto me. How,
beyond all expectation, it pleased God to place
me in that western charge; which, if the Duke
of Buckingham’s letters, he being then in France,
had arrived bat some hours sooner, I had been
defeated of; and, by what strange means it
pleased God to make up the competency of that
provison, by the unthought-of addition of the
rectory of St. Breok * within that diocese: if I
should fully relate the circumstances, would force
* The living of St. Breok, in Cornwall, according to Dr.
Walker, was then worth about £300, a year. Sufferings of the
Clergy, part ii, p. 24.
SEE OF EXETER. 113
the confession of an extraordinary hand of God
in the disposing of those events.
* [ entered upon that place, not without ‘much
prejudice and suspicion on some hands: for some,
thatsat at the stern of the Church, had me in
great jealousy for too much favor of Puritanism. .
I soon had intelligence who were set over me for
espials. My ways were curiously observed and
scanned. However, I took the resolution to
follow those courses which might most conduce
to the peace and happiness of my new and weighty
charge. Finding, therefore, some factious spirits
very busy in that diocese, I used all fair and
gentle means to win them to good order; and
therein so happily prevailed, that, saving two
of that numerous clergy who continuing in their
refractoriness fled away from censure, they were
all perfectly reclaimed: so as I had not one
minister professedly opposite to the anciently
received orders (for I was nevér guilty of urging
any new impositions) of the church in that large
diocese.
‘Thus we went on comfortably together, till
some persons of note in the clergy, being guilty
of their own negligence and disorderly courses,
began to envy our success ; and, finding me ever
ready to encourage those whom I found conscion-
ably forward and painful in their places, and
willingly giving way to orthodox and peaceable
I
114 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
lectures in several parts of my diocese, opened
their mouths against me, both obliquely in the
pulpit and directly at the court; complaining of
my too much diligence to persons disaffected, and
my too much liberty of frequent lecturings within
my charge. The billows went so high, that I was
three several times upon my knee to his Majesty,
to answer these great crimmations: and' what
contestation I had with some great lords con-
cerning these particulars, it would be too long
to report; only this; under how dark a cloud
I was hereupon I was so sensible, that I plainly
told the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, that,
rather than 1 would be obnoxious to those
slanderous tongues of his misinformers, I would
cast up my rochet.* I knew I went right ways,
and would not endure to live under undeserved
suspicions.
* What messages of caution I had from some
of my wary brethren, and what expostulatory
letters I had from above, I need not relate. Sure
I am, I had peace and comfort at home, in the
happy sense of that general unanimity and loving
correspondence of my clergy, till, in the last year
of my presiding there, after the synodical oath
was set on foot (which yet I did never tender to
* White garment; he means his episcopal dress.
TRANSLATED TO NORWICH. 135
any one minister of my diocese) by the incitation
of some busy interlopers of the neighbour county,
some of them began to enter mto an unkind con-
testation with me about the election of clerks of
the convocation; whom they secretly, without
ever acquainting me with their desire or purpose,
as driving to that end which we see now accom
plished, would needs nominate and seí up m
competition to those whom 1 had, after the usual
form, recommended to them. That they had a
right to free voices in that choice, I denied not:
only I had reason to take it unkindly that they
would work underhand, without me, and against
me; professing, that, if they had beforehand made
their desires known to me, 1 should willmgly
have gone along with them in their election. It
eame to the poll. Those of my nomination car-
ried it.
“The parliament begun. After some hard
tugring there, returning home on a recess, 1 was
met on the way and cheerfully welcomed with
some hundreds.
. * ju no worse terms. I left that my once dear
diocese: when, returning to Westminster, Y was
soon called by his Majesty, who was then in the
North, to a remove to Norwich. |
* But how I took the Tower in my way, and
how I have been dealt with since my repair
hither, I could be lavish in the sad report; ever
12
116 ^ A LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
desiring my good God to enlarge my heart in
thankfulness to him for the sensible experience
I have had of his fatherly hand over me in the
deepest of all my afflictions, and to strengthen
me for whatsoever other trials he shall be
pleased to call me unto; that, being found faith-
ful unto the death, I may obtain that crown of
life -which he hath ordained for all those that
overcome.”
Thus closes the Bishop’s “ Account of some
specialities in his own life."—We shall now
revert to some parts of the Narrative which
other sources of information enable us to fill up,
where the writers modesty had rendered him
more brief than could have been wished.
By the death of Dr. Miles Smith, bishop of
Gloucester, * in the year 1624, that bishopric being
vacant, was offered to Dr. Hall, then dean of
Worcester: he was earnestly pressed to accept
that charge; but, * with much humble depreca-
tien," he refused it. However, three years after,
1627, he was promoted by his Majesty to the
bishopric of Exeter, void by the death of Dr.
Valentine Cary, who had been careful of his charge,
and presided over that see about six years; but
* Dr. Miles Smith was one of the. translators of the Bible,
and wrote the Preface to it.
WRITINGS AGAINST POPERY3 117
he resided very little in his palace at Exeter, on
account of the plague which raged very much there
inhis time. Dr. Hall was:consecrated December
23, and was allowed to hold with his bishopric in
commendam, the rectory of St. Breok in Cornwall.
At the time he was elevated to the See of Exeter,
he had the misfortune to be misunderstood by
several well-meaning but over-zealous protestants,
in defending the church of England against the
attacks of some papists. Soon after he was made
bishop, he published his Treatise entitled The
Old Religion, in which he exposes the corruptions
and errors of the church of Rome, and ably vindi-
cates the church of England. But some, through
envy or ignorance, unjustly accused him of remiss*
ness, and of giving his popish adversaries the
advantage of the contest, in allowing the church
of Rome to be a true visible church, though a cor-
rupt and an unsound one. In vindication of him-
self, he wrote An Apologetical Advertisement,
wherein he explains his views of the Roman
church, and refutes the calumny of his changing
his sentiments upon his promotion, and also repels
. the charge of inconstancy: with respect to this,
he says, ‘‘ though, while we are here in this region
of mutability, our whole man is subject to change,
yet we do all herein affect a likeness to the God
of truth, in whom there is no shadow of turning
118 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
especially in religion, so much more as that doth
. more assimilate and unite us to that unchangeable
Deity.”* He states, that what he wrote then, was
the same in substance with what he had written
near twenty years before: “how,” says he, “ doth
the addition of a dignity bring envy upon the same
truth? might that pass commendably from the pen
or tongue of a Doctor, which will not be endured
from the hand of a Bishop? my brethren, 1 am
where I was, the change is yours."f Envious
clamour and prejudice against him did not abate,
but he was compelled further to vindicate himself,
by another Treatise, entitled, 7'Àe Reconciler,
being a pacificatory Letter addressed to the Earl
of Norwich. After stating fully and clearly his
view of the seeming differences of opinion, concern-
ing the trueness and visibility of the Roman Church,
Bishop Hall says, * Alas, my Lord, I see, and
grieve to see it: it is my Rochet (episcopal habit)
that hath offended, and not I : in another habit, I
long since published this, and more, without dis-
like: it is this colour of innocence that hath
bleared some over-tender eyes. Wherein I know
not whether I should more pity their error, or
applaud my own sufferings. Although I may not
say with the Psalmist, What hath the righteous
* Works, vol, ix, p. 301.
t Works, vol. ix, p. 303.
WRITINGS AGAINST POPERY. 119
done? Let me, I beseech your Lordship, upon
this occasion, have leave to give a little vent to
my just grief in this point.
"The other day I fell upon a Latin pamphlet,
homely for style, tedious for length, zealously
uncharitable for stuff; wherein the author (only
wise in this, that he would be unknown) in a grave
fierceness flies in the face of our English prelacy ;
not so much inveighing against their persons, which
he could be eontent to reverence, as. their very
places. I bless myself to see the case so altered.
Heretofore, the person had wont to bear off many
blows from the function: now the very function
wounds the person. In what case are we, when that,
which should command respect, brands us! What
black art hath raised up this spirit of nus from
his pit? Woe is me, that zeal should breed such
monsters of conceit! It is the honour, the pomp,
the wealth, the pleasure, he saith, of the episco-
.pal chair, that is guilty of the depravation of our
calling; and, if himself were so overlaid with
greatness, he should suspect his own fidelity.
Alas, poor man, at what distance doth he see us!
Foggy air useth to represent every object far big-
zerthanitis. Our Saviour, in his temptation upon
the mount, had only the glory of those kngdoms
shewed to him by that subtle Spirit; not the cares
and vexations: right so are our dignities exhibited
120 . LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
to these envious beholders: little do these men
see the toils and anxieties that attend this sup-
posedly-pleasing eminence.
“All the revenge, that I would wish to this
uncharitable censurer, should .be this, that he
might be but for a while adjudged to this so glori-
ous seat of mine; that so his experience might
taste the bewitching pleasures of this envied great-
ness; he should well find more danger of being
-overspent with work, than of languishing with ease
and delicacy. For me, I need not appeal to
heaven: eyes enough can witness, how few free
hours I have enjoyed, since I put on these robes
of sacred honour. Insomuch as I could find in
my heart, with holy Gregory, to complain of my
change; were it not, that I see these public troubles
are so many acceptable services to my God,
whose glory is the end of my being. Certainly,
my Lord, if none but earthly respects should
sway me, I should heartily wish to change this
palace, which the providence of God and the
bounty of my gracious Sovereign hath put me
into, for my quiet cell at Waltham, where I had
so sweet leisure to enjoy God, your Lordship,
and myself. But I have followed the calling of
my God, to whose service I am willingly sacri-
ficed ; and must now, in a holy obedience to his
Divine Majesty, with what cheerfulness I may,
ride out all the storms of envy, which unavoida-
- WRITINGS AGAINST POPERY. 121
bly will alight upon the least appearance of a
conceived greatness. In the mean time, what-
ever I may seem to others, I was never less in my
own apprehensions; and, where it not for this
attendance of envy, could not yield myself any
whit greater than I was."*
The above quotation very particularly pour-
trays the mind of Bishop Hall, when he was har-
assed by envy and calumny, and his sacred func-
tion so uncharitably attacked. Upon the misre-
presentation of his opinion respecting the visibility
of the church of Rome, Bishop Hall consulted
Bishop Morton, Bishop Davenant, Dr. Prideaux,
Dr. Primrose, &c. and requested each of them to
express their sentiments concerning the point in
dispute. "They unanimously concurred with
Bishop Hall’s view of the subject: so that the
Treatise, entitled the Reconxciler, was seconded
with the letters of the above learned and sound
divines, * whose indubitable authority," says
Bishop Hall, * was able to bear down calumny.
itself. Which done, I did by a seasonable modera-
tion provide for the peace of the church, in silenc-
* Works, vol.ix, pp. 315, 316, — This may be reckoned a
correct and fair representation of the general condition of the
Bishops of the Church of England: the weighty and anxious
cares of their vocation are better known to themselves than to
others.
122 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
ing both my defendants and challengers, in this
unkind and ill-raised quarrel."*
We learn from Bishop Hall’s dedication of his
Treatise entitled The Old Religion, to the dio-
cese of Exeter, that during the time of the late
vacancy, papists had taken the advantage to dis-
seminate “ the tares of errors” among the people :
he therefore expressed his resolution, and faith-
fally vowed his utmost endeavours to reform and
prevent all sins of practice, and errors of doctrine:
* ] shall labour against the first, by preaching,
example, and censures: against the latter, my
pen hath risen up in this early assault" He
affectionately recommended to his clergy to lead
their flocks to the tender pastures, and to.the still
waters: ‘‘ by the one,” says he, “ I mean the
inuring of our people to the principles of whole-
some doctrine; by the other, an immunity from
all faction and disturbance of the public peace."
He then proceeded strongly to recommend cate-
chizing. *'* It was," says he, * the observation of
the learnedest king that ever sat hitherto in the
English throne, that the cause of the miscarriage
' of our people into popery and other errors, was
their ungroundedness in the points of catechism.
* A suspicion of leaning towards popery was attached at
that time to all who favoured episcopacy. But, it is evident .
from the whole tenor of Bishop Hall's works, and the general
course of his life, that nothing was more abhorrent to his soul.
IN THE SEE OF EXETER. 193
How should those souls be but carried about with
every wind of doctrine, that are not well ballasted
with solid informations? Whence 1t was that his
said late Majesty, of happy memory, gave public
order for bestowing the latter part of God's day
in familiar catechizing, than which, nothing could
be devised more necessary and behoveful to the
souls of men. It was the ignorance and ill-dis-
posedness of some cavillers, that taxed this course
as prejudicial to preaching : since, in truth, the
most useful of all preaching is catechetical. This
lays the grounds ; the other raiseth the walls and
roof. This informs the judgment: that stirs up
the affections. What good use is there of those
affections, that run before the judgment? or of
those walls, that want a foundation? For my part,
I have spent the greater half of my life in this sta-
tion of our holy service; I thank God, not unpain-
fully, notunprofitably.* But there is no one thing,
whereof I repent so much, as not to have bestowed
more hours in this public exercise of catechism.
In regard whereof I could quarrel with my very
sermons, and wish that a great part of them had
been exchanged for this preaching conference."
* Fuller says, in his Worthies of England, that Hall's little
Catechism had done great good in the populous parish of
Waltham; ** and I could wish," says he, ** that ordinance more
generally used all over England."
+ Works, vol. ix, pp. 224, 226.
124 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
These remarks on catechizing are worthy of the
attention of every Christian Minister, as they
come from such high authority, as Bishop Hall,
who spent so large a portion of his life in this
exercise, and who must have seen and expe-
rienced its beneficial effects. Undoubtedly it
is, in a great measure, owing to the neglect of
catechizing that so many erroneous doctrines and
unscriptural opinions prevail in the religious world:
it was so in Bishop Hall’s time, when he said,
* we see catechizing of children, than which
nothing can be conceived more profitable and
necessary in God's church, is grown utterly out
offashion. And what woeful distractions of opin-
ions, what horrible paradoxes of contradiction to
the Articles of Christian faith, have been and are
daily broached to the world, what good heart can
but tremble to consider? Certainly, it was not
without great reason, that our wise and learned
King James, of blessed memory, when complaint
was made to him of the growth of popery in his
time, returned: answer, that all this was for the
want of catechizing; for, surely, if the younger
sort were soundly seasoned with true know-
ledge of the grounds of religion, they could not
be so easily carried away with every wind of
docírine." *
* Bishop Hall's Works, vol. ix, pp. 780, 808.
IN THE SEE OF EXETER. 125
Bishop Hall, at his first entering upon this
new dignity, met with much -vexation and
uneasiness: he was not only suspected of favour-
ing popery, when he was made a bishop, but
there were persons disposed to charge him with
puritanism.*
About the time Bishop Hall was promoted
to the see of Exeter, a scheme was formed
by several gentlemen and clergy, to promote
preaching in the country, by setting wp lectures
in market towns. They erected themselves
into a kind of a corporation, and by voluntary
contributions, purchased what impropriations
they could meet with in lay hands; the profits
of which were to be divided into salaries to
these lecturers. The trustees had laid out be-
tween five and six thousand pounds in the pur-
chasing of impropriations. The design at first
was looked upon by most people as very lauda-
ble; but as it was found that the preachers had
not those salaries for their lives, but were entirely
dependent on the good will and humour of their
patrons, who were considered as not very well
affected to the established church, and as most
of the lecturers were either non-conformists, or
* See above, p. 113.
126 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
such as had been silenced for refusing to sub-
scribe the articles. Bishop Laud looked on these
proceedings with an evil eye, and represented
them to the king, as a coaspiracy against the
church. An information was therefore brought |
against the trustees, by Mr. Attorney-General
Noy, as an unlawful society formed into a body
corporate, without any grant from the king, aad
it, was decreed, that the impropriations should be
confiscated to the king, and the trustees fined
in the Star-Chamber :—but, however, the pro-
secution for some reasons was dropt, as it
ultimately appeared, that the trustees already
were out of, pocket above a thousand pounds iu
this business.
The puritans thought. this an odious prose-
eution, and exclaimed against the bishops as
. designing to introduce Axminianism and Popery
into the church. The violences, which should
justly have been ascribed to the cireumstances of
the time, were unhappily imputed to the Church
of England; whilst Bishop Laud, and others,
who had great credit with the king, were con-
tinually representing to him all those as puritans,
who were not entirely submissive to the regal
power, and were using against them severities in
the High Commission, and Star Chamber, very
unbecoming the spirit of Christianity. "Thus the
IN THE SEE OF EXETER. 327
breach grew wider daily between the king and
the puritans ; and after the death of Archbishop
Abbot, Bishop Laud was advanced into the pri-
macy: the breach still widened through this
Primate’s intolerancy, till it ended in his own
destruction, and that of the king, and the Church
of England.
But some persons charged Bishop Hall with
too much indulgence of lecturings in his diocese :
these adversartes of the bishop were some clergy
of note, “ guilty of neghgence, and of disorderly
courses,” and who envied his success, finding him
always ready to encourage conscientious and
laborious clergymer, and promoting orthodox
and peaceable lectures in various parts of his
diocese. We have already seen (p. 114) how he
met these complaints. |
In these treubles and vexations of Bishop Half,
the reader may perceive the perseeuting sprrit of
Archbishop Laud, who had his spies in every
quarter to find out those who were puritanically
inclmed. Because Bishop Hall was, and always
had been a diligent preacher himself, and a great
encourager of preaching, and promoted regular
lectures in his diocese, he must be reckoned a too
great favourer of puritanism! He must be there-
fere complained of to his sowereign, and nearly
be compelled to give up his eptscopal function!
128 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
Undoubtedly such men as Archbishop Laud,when
placed at the helm of ecclesiastical affairs, have
been the cause of very much harm to the Chris-
tian church. Such circumstances must have
made the assuming the government of the see of
Exeter extremely difficult to Bishop Hall; but
by his prudent measures, and mild, unaffected
behaviour, he soon obtained the confidence and —
affections of his numerous clergy. ‘The reader is
referred to the affecting ** Account of Himself,”
and to his * Letter from the Tower," wherein
his character is truly delineated, and the unjust
charges of all his adversaries refuted. Our his-
torians have blamed Bishop Hall, Archbishop
Usher, . Dishop Prideaux, Bishop Brownrigge,
and some others, for their moderation, as giving
the disaffected in those times some advantage
against the established church. But such accu-
sations were generally made by those who were
of high church principles, and were disposed to
carry their own rigid views to an extreme. Bishop
Hall has been accused' very undeservedly of
favoring any irregularity in the church: he inva-
riably used his moderation in order to win over
the enemies of the church. While engaged in
controversy, he always conducted himself with
such spirit and temper, that his antagonists could
not but allow, that he acted from love to them
ARCHBISHOP LAUD. 129
and to the truth. If therefore, on any occasion,
his Christian moderation was made a wrong use
of, it should not be imputed as a fault to him,
. but to those who abused it. |
As soon as Dr. Laud was made Archbishop of
Canterbury, there was one thing in particular
advised by him, which very justly gave great
offence to all serious people in the church and
out of it. The occasion of it was this. A com-
plaint having been made to the Lord Chief.
Justice Richardson, and Baron Denham, in their
Western circuit, of the great inconvenience arising
from revels, sports, church ales, and clerk ales,* on
Sundays: the two judges, at the request of the
justices of the peace, made an order for sup-
pressing these occasions of riot and debauchery
on the Lord’s day, and enjoined every parish
minister to publish this order yearly in his church,
the first Sunday in February, and the two Sun-
days before Easter. Upon the return of the
circuit, the judges punished some few persons for
* Church ales were, when the people went from afternoon
prayers on Sunday to their sports and pastimes in the church
yard, or in some other place, asa public house, where they
drank and made merry. |
Clerk ales were so called, becáuse they were for the benefit
of the parish clerk: the people used to send him provisions,
and then come on a certain Sunday, and feasted with him, by
which means he used to sell a great quantity of ale, the profits
of which aided his salary.
K
130 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
their disobedience of their order. The Arch-
bishop, being informed of this proceeding of the
two judges, complained to the king of their
invading the episcopal jurisdiction, and prevailed
on his Majesty to summon them before the Coun-
cil. When they appeared, Richardson pleaded
that the order was made at the request and
unanimous consent of the bench of justices, and
justified it by producing precedents in the two
foregoing reigns, as well as the present.* But
all he could say signified nothing; he was sharply
reprimanded, and enjoined to revoke the order at
the next assizes, which he did contrary to his
inclinations, as well as those of all good men,
. who could not but think such revels, sports, &c.
on the sabbath-day, dishonourable to God, and
extremely prejudicial to his Majesty and the
country. This circumstance almost broke the
judge's heart, for when he came out of the Coun- —
cil Chamber, he told the Earl of Dorset, with
tears in his eyes, ** that he had been miserably
shaken by the Archbishop, and was like to be
choaked with his lawn-sleeves.”
The primate having thus humbled the judge,
* Eliz. 38, Sep. 10, the justices assembled at Bridgwater
ordered that no church ale, clerk ale, or bid ale, be sutfered.
Signed by Popham, Lord Chief Justice, and ten others. The ,
same order was repeated 1599, and Eliz. 41; and again at
Exeter, 1615, Jac. 18, and Anno 1627.
BOOK OF SPORTS, 131
and taken this affair into his own hands, pre-
valled on his Majesty to republish his father's
declaration of the year 1618, ** concerning lawful
sports to be used on Sundays after divine service."
This. was called the Book of Sports. ‘This in-
famous declaration for sports on the sabbath day
was republished, Oct. 18, 1633, with additions or
improvements. As this Book of Sports is so
frequently mentioned by writers, in order to
satisfy the curiosity of the reader, and that he
might be able to judge of its merits, 1 have here
annexed a copy of it: it was to this effect :—
* 'That king James, of blessed memory, in his
return from Scotland, coming through Lancashire,
found that his subjects were debarred from lawful
. recreations upon Sundays, after evening-prayers
ended, and upon holydays. And he prudently
considered, that if these times were taken from
them, the meaner sort, who labour hard all the
week, should have no recreations at all to refresh
their spirits, And, after his retum, he further
saw, that his loyal subjects, in all other parts of
his kingdom, did suffer in the same kind, though
perhaps not in the same degree; aud did there-
fore, in his princely wisdom, publish a declara-
tion to all. his Joving subjects, concerning lawful
sports to be used at such times, which. was
printed and published by his royal command-
! K2 !
132 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
ment, in the year 1618, in the tenor which. here-
after followeth :—
* Whereas, upon his Majesty's return last year
out of Scotland, he did publish his pleasure,
touching the recreations of his people in those
parts, under his hand. For.some causes him
thereunto moving, hath thought good to command
these his directions, then given in Lancashire,
with a few words. thereunto added, and most
applicable to these parts of the realm, to be pub-
lished to all his subjects.
* Whereas. he did justly, in his progress thr ough
Lancashire, rebuke some puritans and precise
people: and took order, that the like unlawful
carriage should not be used by any of them here-
after, in the prohibiting and unlawful punishing
of his good people, for using their lawful recre-
ations, and honest exercises, upon Sundays, and
other holidays, after the afternoon sermon or
service. His Majesty hath now found, that two
sorts of people, wherewith that country is much
infected, viz. papists and puritans, hath mali-
ciously traduced :.nd calumniated those his just
and honourable proceedings: and therefore, lest
his reputation might, upon the one side, (though
innocently,) have some aspersion laid: upon it;
and that, upon the other part, his good people in
that country be misled by the mistaking. and
BOOK OF SPORTS. 133
misinterpretation of his meaning, his Majesty
hath therefore thought good hereby to clear and
make his pleasure to be manifested .to' all. his |
good people in those parts.
** It is true, that, at his first entry to this crown
and kingdom, he was informed, and that truly,
that his county of Lancashire abounded more in
popish recusants than any county. of England,
and thus hath still continued since, to his great
regret, with little amendment; save that, now of.
late, in his last riding through his said county,
hath found, both by the report of the judges and:
of the bishop of that diocese, that there 1s some
amendment now daily beginning, which is no
small contentment to his Majesty. The report
of this growing amendment amongst them, made
his Majesty the more sorry, when, with his own
ears, he heard the general complaint of his people,
that they were debarred from all lawful recrea-
tions and exercise upon the Sundays’ afternoon,
after the ending of all divine service, which cannot
but produce two evils: the one, the hindering
the conversion of many, whom their priests will
take occasion hereby to vex, persuading them
that no honest mirth or recreation.is. lawful or
tolerable in the religion which the king professeth,
and which cannot but breed a great discontent-
ment in his people’s hearts, especially of such as
are, peradventure, upon the point. of turning.
134 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
The other mconvenience is, that this prohibition
barreth the common and meaner sort of people
from using such exercises as may make their’
bodies more able for war, when his Majesty or
his successors shall have occasion to use them ;
and in place thereof, sets up tippling and filthy
drunkenness, and breeds a number of idle and
discontented speeches in their alehouses. For
when sball the common people have leave to
exercise, if not upon the Sundays and holidays,
seeing that they must apply their labour, and win
their living, in all working days?
**'The king's express pleasure therefore is, that
the laws of this kingdom, and canons of the
church, be as well observed in that county, as in
all other places of this his kingdom. And, on
the other hand, that no lawful recreation shall be
barred to his good people, which shall not tend
to the breach of the aforesaid laws and canons of
his church ; which, to express more particularly
his Majesty's pleasure, is, that the bishops, and
all other inferior churchmen, and churchwardens,
shall, for their parts, be careful and diligent, both
to instruct the ignorant, and convince and reform
them that are misled in religion ; presenting them.
that will not conform themselves, but obstinately
stand out, to the judges and justices, whom he
likewise commands to put the laws in due execu-
tion against them.
BOOK OF SPORTS. 135
*« His Majesty’s pleasure likewise is, that the
bishop of the diocese take the like strict order
with all the puritans and precisians within the
same: either constrain them to conform them-
selves, or to leave the country, according to the
laws of this kingdom, and canons of this church,
and so to strike equally on both hands against
the contemners of his authority, and adversaries
of the church. And as for his good people’s law-
ful recreation, his pleasure likewise is, that, after
the end of divine service, his good people be not
disturbed, letted, or discouraged from any lawful
recreation; such as dancing, either men or
women; archery for men, leaping, vaulting, or
any other ‘such harmless recreations; nor from
having of May-games, Whitsun-ales, and Morice-
dances, and the setting up of May-poles, and
other sports therewith used; so as the same be
had in due and convenient time, without impedi-
ment or neglect of divine service. And that
women shall have leave to carry rushes to the
church, for the decorating of it, according to
‘their old custom. But withal his Majesty doth
hereby account still as prohibited, all unlawful
games to be used upon Sundays only, as bear
and bull-baitings, interludes, and, at all times,
in the meaner sort of people by law prohibited,
bowling. | |
* And likewise bars from this benefit and
136 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
liberty, all such known recusants, either men or
women, as will abstain from coming to church or
divine service; being therefore unworthy of any
lawful recreation after the said service,. that will
not first come to the church and serve God:
prohibiting in like sort the said recreations to any
that, though conform in religion, are not present -
in the church at the service of God, before their
going to the said recreations. His pleasure like-
wise is, that they, to whom it belongeth in office,
shall present and sharply punish all such as, in
abuse of this his liberty, will use these exercises
before the end of all divine services for that day.
And he doth likewise straightly command, that
every person shall resort to his own parish-church
to hear divine service, and each parish by itself
to use the said recreation after divine service:
prohibiting likewise any offensive weapons to be
carried, or used, in the same times of recreation.
And his pleasure is, that this his declaration
shall be published, by order from the bishop of
the diocese, through all the parish churches; and
that both the judges of the circuits, and the jus-
tices of the peace, be informed thereof.
* Given at the manor of Greenwich, the 24th
of May, in the 16th year of his Majesty's
reign, of England, France, and Ireland, and
of Scotland, the one and fiftieth.”
BOOK OF SPORTS. 137
* Now out of a like pious care for the service
of God, and for suppressing of any humours that
oppose truth, and for the ease, comfort, and re-
creation of his well-deserving people, his Majesty
doth ratify and publish this his blessed father's
declaration; the rather, because of late, in some
counties of this kingdom, his Majesty finds that,
under pretence of taking away abuses, there hath
been a general forbidding, not only of ordinary
meetings, but of the feasts of the dedication of
the churches, commonly called Wakes. Now
his Majesty’s express will and pleasure is, that
these feasts, with others, shall be observed ; and
that his justices of the peace, in their several
divisions, shall look to it, both that all disorders
there may be prevented or punished, and that all
neighbourhood: and freedom with manlike and
lawful exercises, be used. And for this his
Majesty further commands all justices of assize,
in their several circuits, to see that no man do
trouble or molest any of his loyal and dutiful
people, in or for their lawful recreations, having
first done their duty to God, and continuing in
obedience to his Majesty's laws. And for this
his Majesty commands all his judges, justices of
peace, as well within liberties as without, majors,
bailiffs, constables, and other officers, to take
notice of, and to see observed, as they tender his
displeasure. And doth further will, that pub-
188 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
lication of this his command be made, by order
from the bishops, through all the parish churches
of their several dioceses respectively.
* Given at the palace of Westminster, the
18th day of October, in the ninth year of
his reign.. |
** God save the King.”
The publication of this declaration for sports
on the Lord's day, was to be by order from the
bishops, through all the parish churches of their
respective dioceses. This opened a flood-gate
to all manner of licentiousness among the popu-
lace, and became the means of unspeakable
oppression to a great number of worthy clergy-
men. The ruling prelates, though unauthorized
by law, required the clergy to read 1t publicly
before the congregation: and those clergy who
refused, felt the iron rod of oppression, suspen-
sion, deprivation, &c. It struck the sober part of
the nation with horror, to see themselves invited
by the authority of the king and church, to that
which seemed so contrary to the command of
God. It was certainly out of character for
bishops and clergymen, who should support and :
encourage religion, to draw men off from the
practice of it, by inviting them to public sports
and pastimes upon the day which God himself
BOOK OF SPORTS. 139
has commanded mankind to remember to keep
holy. Such were the prety and wisdom of these
times! The court had their balls, masquerades,
and plays, on the Sunday evenings; whilst the
country people were at their revels, morrice-
dances, May-games, church- ales, and ail kinds
of diversion.
The bishops were ordered to take care of its
publication in all parish churches. Archbishop
Laud knew it would distress the puritans, and
would tend to purify the church of a set of men,
for whom he had a perféct aversion. The im-
posing this declaration to be published by the
clergy was a great hardship, and was the cause of
sad havoc amongst them for above seven years.
Many poor clergymen strained their consciences
in submission to their superiors. Some after
publishing it, immediately read the fourth com-
mandment to the people, Remember the sabbath
day to keep ut holy; adding, “ ‘This is the.law of
God; the other, the ?njunctton of man." Great
numbers refused to comply at all to read the
declaration. Faller says, ** that the archbishop's
moderation in his own diocese was remarkable,
silencing but three, in whom also was a con-
currence of other non-conformities; but that his
adversaries imputed it not to his charity, but
policy, fox-like, preying farthest from bis own
*
140 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
den, and instigating other bishops to do more
than he would appear in himself.” *
A great number of clergymen were, during the
space of about seven years, silenced, suspended,
and deprived of their livings for refusing to read
the book of sports. . It would be too tedious to
relate in this volume all the particulars of. the
suspensions, deprivations, and other persecutions
in the High Commission Court for not read-
ing it. |
When we consider that Charles I. has been
represented as remarkable for his piety, and the
diligent performance of the external acts of reli-
gion, ** setting a pattern to others iu what related
to the worship and service of Almighty God;"
it would be hardly credible, did not historians
unanimously concur in recording the fact, that
he should revive the declaration of his father
concerning sports on the Lord's day, and dis-
countenance such as were for a strict observance
of it. But so it was; and the charge of repub-
lishing this declaration is a great blemish in the
character of. Charles I, though undoubtedly, . he
was instigated and recommended to do it by
Archbishop Laud. "The public licence and en-
couragement of sports and diversions, after divine
* Ch. Hist. b. xi, p. 148.
BOOK -OF SPORTS. 141
service.on Sundays, was a thing of ill report,
destructive to the morals of the common people,
and even contrary to a statute made in this
reign. 1 Caroli, c.1.* It tended to efface any
good impressions received in the worship of God,
and it was so inconsistent with the petition or
prayer subjoined in the Liturgy to the fourth
commandment— Lord, have mercy upon us, and
incline our hearts to keep this law! It there-
fore left a bad impression on the minds of
the people, with respect to the king’s regard
to religion and morality; especially since his
Majesty made use of the liberty he gave to his
subjects. He scrupled not giving a masquerade
on a Sunday:f and it must be allowed that it
* It was the only act relating to religion, which his Majesty
passed in the Parliament of 1625, and was entitled, An Act
to prevent unlawful Pastimes on the Lord's day. The preamble
sets forth, That the holy keeping of the Lord's day is a prin-
cipal part of the true service of God—“ Therefore it is enacted,
that there shall be no assemblies of people out of their own
parishes, for any sports or pastimes whatsoever; nor any bear-
baiting, bull-baiting, interludes, common plays, or other unlaw-
ful exercises or pastimes, within their own parishes, on for-
feiture of three shillings and sixpence for every such offence to
the poor.” ** However," says Neal, “ this law was never put
in execution. Men were reproached and censured for too strict
an observation of the Lord's day, but none that I have met
with, for the profauation of it.” It was suspended and abro-
gated by the publication of the book of sports. See Neal's
Hist. of the Puritans, vol.ii, pp. 162, 163.
T ** The French and Spanish Ambassadors were both at the
king’s mask, but not received as Ambassadors. The French
142 LIFE, OF BISHOP HALL.
was'a:very strange: way to express a pious. care
for the service of God, by encouraging Morice.
dances, May-games, May-poles, and revels, on
the day set apart for divine worship. The people,
possessing even common sense, could not be
brought: to believe, that the practice of virtue
could be promoted by the mixt dancing of men
and women on village greens, or in other. places on
Sunday evenings, and at wakes and Whitsun-ales.
When the common people were encouraged to
spend the sabbath in idleness or in diversions,
the natural consequence must necessarily have
been, that a loose turn of mind would he con-
tracted, and a demoralization, or a great. depra-
vity of manners ensue. Therefore it always
behoves persons in authority to promote the
observance of the Lord's day, and to shew
- themselves an exemplary and a regular behaviour
on that sacred day: for by a strict observance
of the sabbath by men in power, decency of man-
ners will be generally increased, ‘knowledge
sat amongst the ladies, the Spanish in a box. It was performed
on a Sunday night, the day after the twelfth night, in very cold
weather, so that the house was not filled according to expecta-
tion. ‘The act of council to drive all men into the country, the
coldness of the weather, the day Sunday, and the illness of the
invention of the scenes, were given for causes wliy so small
a company came to see it. My Lord-Treasurer (Bishop
Juxton) was there by command,": Strafforde's Letters and
Dispatches, vol.ii, p. 148.
BOOK OF SPORTS. 143
adyanced, ‘and a sense of religion (a thing of the
greatest importance to society as well as to indi-
viduals) will be promoted in the minds of men.
This is the duty of men in power: if they neglect
it, they are not to wonder at the demoralized
state and wickedness of the lower classes, or
complain of the breach of social duties.*
Though several of the bishops urged the reading
of the book of sports in their dioceses,.and caused
many of the clergy for refusmg to do it, to be sus-
pended and to be oppressed, yet, with respect to
the diocese of Exeter, there is no account of any
one clergyman suffering on account of it. As one
object of publishing the book of sports was to sup-
press afternoon sermons, so we know that Bishop
Hall was a very great encourager of sermons and
of lectures ; therefore there is strong probability
that he did not countenance sports on the sabbath,
nor urge his clergy to read the declaration. Con-
sidering his great moderation, we may suppose
that he left it entirely to the discretion of his clergy
to: comply or not with the reading of it. In his
Works we find no allusion to, or any remarks
made upon this declaration for sporte; the good
bishop probably passed over such a violation of
God's law in silence, out of respect, and from
* Harris's Life of Charles I. pp. 59, 60.
144 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
obedience, to the powers that be for conscience’ sake.
Bat it would have been well, if he had left us a
testimony of his decided disapprobation of such a
violation of the sabbath; or that he had written -
purposely on the morality of the Lord’s day.
When the declaration for sports was repub-
lished, the controversy of the morality of the sab-
bath was revived. Mr. Theophilus Bradbourne, a
Suffolk Minister, had published in the year 1628,
a Defence of the most ancient and sacred ordinance
of God, the Sabbath day ; and dedicated it to the
king. But Fuller observes, **'That the poor
màn fell into the ambush of the high commission,
whose well-tempered 'severity so prevailed with
him, that he became a convert, and conformed
quietly to the church of England" Francis
White, bishop of Ely, was commanded by the king
to confute Bradbourne: ‘after him appeared Dr.
Pocklington, with his Sunday no sabbath; and
after him Heylin and others.* These divines,
instead of softening some rigours in Bradbourne’s
sabbatarian strictness, ran into the contrary ex-
treme, denying all manner of divine right or moral
obligation to the observance of the whole, or any
part of the Lord's day, making it to depend entirely -
upon ecclesiastical authority, and to oblige no
* Ch. Hist. b. xi, p. 144. See also Heylin's Life of Laud,
pp. 257, 268, | .
BOOK OF SPORTS. 145
farther than to the few hours of public service:
and that, in the intervals, all kinds of revels and
diversions were lawful and expedient. .
It must be acknowledged that the long Parlia-
ment paid a particular regard to the strict and
due observation of the Lord's day,. and so passed
Several ordinances or acts to that purpose. All
kinds of sports, either before or after ‘divine ser-
vice, were discountenanced; the preaching of
God's word was promoted in the.afternoon on
Sundays, in the several churches and chapels,.
and ministers were encouraged thereunto. And
it does the long Parliament credit so far as to
shew their abhorrence of the infamous book of
sports, which was ordered, May 5, 1643, to be
burnt by the hands of the common hangman in
Cheapside, and other places; and all persons
having any copies in their hands, were required to
deliver them to one of the Sheriffs of London to
be burnt. |
Archbishop Laud was so far from undeceiving
those who were disposed to imagine that the church
was.leaning to popery, that he seemed at this
time to have taken care to confirm them in their
suspicion, by conforming to the Romish church in
matters of little moment. "There was scarce a
church then in England, except the cathedrals,
and the king's chapel, where the communion table
was placed altarwise at the upper end of the chan-
L
146 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
cel. The communion-table was usually placed in
the middle of the charicel, and the people received
the sacrament of the Lord's Supper round it, or in
their places thereabouts.* The dean and chapter
of St. Paul's ordered the communion table in St.
Gregory's church near St. Paul's to be removed
from the middle of the chancel to the upper
end of it, and to be placed there in form of an
altar. This was complained of by the parishion-
ers in the Court of Arches. The king some-
time after commanded this cause to be heard
before the council; where his Majesty himself
directed. the Dean of the Arches to confirm
what had been done. .In consequence of .this
sentence, pronounced by the king's authority,
without the judgment of the court, to which the
cognizance of this affair belonged, all communion-
tables were ordered to be fixed under the east-
wall of the chancel, with the ends north and south
in form of an altar; and to be raised two or three
steps above the floor, and encompassed with rails.
This proved a source of oppression to many minis-
ters and parishes who were unwilling to comply
with such an order. It is almost incredible what
a great ferment this trifling alteration occasioned
over the kingdom. Books were written for and
* 'The communion-table of the church of Great Gransden,
Hunts. remains still (1824) in the middle of the Chancel.
PRYNNE. 147
against it, with the same earnestness and copten- -
tion. for victory, as if the very existence of religion
had been in danger. This occasioned a sort of
schism or division among the bishops, * and agreat
deal of uncharitableness in the learned and mode-
rate clergy towards one another."* Those who
opposed the alterations were called doctrina]
puritans, and the promoters of them doctrinal
pápists. 'As the Archbishop and his party were
thus indiscreet on the one side, so the zeal of the
puritans, on the other, betrayed them into very
intemperate and indecent practices towards the
established government of the church. But they
were not the only people who were dissatisfied
with the innovations which were introduced, and
who were jealous that something more was in-
se omen
severe sentence of the Star-chamber was pro-
nounced against William Prynne, barrister and
member of Lincoln's-inn, for writing a book inti-
tled Histriomastiz, T against plays, masquerades,
* Clarendon.
+ Warner’s Eccles. Hist. of England, vol. ii, p. 526.
f This book is a thick quarto of 1008 pages. It abouads
with learning, and has some curious quotations; but it is a very
tedious and heavy performance; had he been let alone, few
people would have read his book. He was a person of austere
principles, and, perhaps, was one of the hardest students that
ever existed. He was called one of the greatest paper-worms that
L 2
148 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
dancing, &c. He was sentenced to have his
book burnt, to be disabled from the practice of
the law, be degraded from his degree in the
university, be set in the pillory, have both his
ears cut off, to paya fine of £ 5000. and to be
imprisoned during life.” A short time after, Dr.
Bastwick a physician, and Mr. Burton a clergy-
man, were imprisoned; the former for writing a
book entitled Elenchus Religionts Papistice, with
Appendix, called Flagellum Pontificis et Episcopo-
rum Latialium, which gave a great offence to Laud
and others; the latter, for having published two
exceptionable sermons, from Prov. xxiv, 21, 22,
entitled, For God and the King, against the late
innovations. ‘The punishment of these men,
who were of the three great professions," observes
ever creptinto a library. Wood supposes that he wrote a sheet
for every day of his life, computing from the time of his arrival
to man's estate to the day of his death. He says, **his custom
was, when he studied, to put on a long quilted cap, which came
an inch over his eyes, serving as an umbrella to defend them
from too much light; and seldom eating a dinner, would every
three hours, or more, be mounching a roll of bread, and now
and then refresh his exhausted spirits with ale." He wrote
about two hundred books, which he gave in 40 vols, fol. and 4to.
to the public Library of Lincoln’s Inn. On the restoration of
Charles II. some asked the king what must be done with
Pryntie to make him quiet. ** Why," said bis Majesty, ** let
him amuse himself with writing against the Catholics, and in
‘poring over the records of the Tower." To enable him to do
the latter, he was appointed Keeper of the Records of the
Tower, with a salary of £500. a year. He died Oct. 24, 1669.
Wood's Athen. Oxon, vol. ii, pp. 311-827.
BURTON, PRYNNE, AND BASTWICK. 149
Mr. Granger, * was ignominious and severe:
though they were never objects of esteem, they
soon became objects of pity. The indignity and
severity of their punishment gave general offence; -
and they were no longer regarded as criminals,
but confessors."* |
During imprisonment, the above three persons
were charged with writing several libellous pam-
phlets, and in the year 1637, were sentenced to
suffer perpetual imprisonment; Burton to be
deprived of his living, and to be degraded from.
his ministry, as Prynne and Bastwick had been .
from their profession of law and physic—each of
them to pay a fine of £ 5000—to stand in the
pillory at Westminster, and have their ears cut off:
and because Prynne had already lost his ears, .it
was ordered that the stumps should be cut off;
and that he should be stigmatized on both cheeks
with the letters S. L. viz. Seditious -Libeller.
Prynne-was imprisoned in Carnarvon castle, but
afterwards removed to Montorguiel Castle in
Jersey: Bastwick in Launceston Castle, but
removed to the castle in the isle of Scilly; and
Burton in the castle of Lancaster, but was removed
to Castle-cornet in the island of Guernsey ; where
they were kept without the use of pen, ink and
* Biog. Hist. of Eng. vol. ii, p. 192.
150 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
paper, or the access of their friends, till they were
released by the long parliament.*
Dr. Williams, bishop of Lincoln, and the Rev.
Mr. Osbaldeston, head-master of Westminster
school, met with severe hardships by means of
Archbishop Laud. Bishop Williams had been so
good a friend to Laud as to persuade King James
to advance him to a bishopric. But upon the
accession of King Charles, Laud turned upon his
benefactor, and supplanted him from favour
and preferments at court. Upon which Bishop
Williams retired to his diocese, and spent his time
in reading and in the good government of his
diocese. He said once in conversation, * that the
puritans were the king’s best subjects, and he was
sure would carry all at last; and that the king
had told him, “that he would treat the puritans
more mildly for the future." " Laud being informed
of this expression, caused an information to be
lodged against him: in the Star-Chamber, ‘for
revealing the king’s secrets; but the charge: not
being well supported, a new bill was exhibited
against him, for tatipering with the king’s witnesses.
Consequently the bishop was suspended from all
his offices and benefices, was fined ‘eleven thousand
* Neal's Hist. of the Puritans, vol. ii, p. 280.
See a full account of these sufferers in Brook's Lives of the
Puritans, vol. iii.
OSBALDESTON. 151
pounds, and to be imprisoned in the Tower during
the king’s pleasure. He was kept a close prisoner
about four years, till the meeting of the long parlia-
ment. The Rev. Mr.Osbaldeston was charged with
"plotting with the bishop of Lincoln to divulge false
news, and to breed a difference between the Lord.
Treasurer Weston and the Archbishop of Canterbury
as long ago as the year 1633. The information
was grounded upon two letters of Mr. Osbaldeston
to Bishop Williams, found among the papers of the
latter, in which were some expressions, which the
jealous Archbishop interpreted as concerning
himself. Though there was no foundation for
conviction, yet the court fined him £5000 to the
King, and £5000. to the Archbishop: to be de-
prived of all his spiritual dignities and promotions,
to be imprisoned during the King’s pleasure, and to
stand in; the pillory in the Dean's yard before his
own school, and have his ears nailed to it. How-
ever, Mr. Osbaldeston so effectually concealed
himself till the beginning of the long parliament,
that he fortunately escaped this very severe
sentence. |
CHAPTER IV.
THovucH there had been bishops in Scotland
for some years, they were, in a great measure, but
nominal, being subject to a presbyterian assembly.
The attempt of establishing episcopacy in that
country in the time of king James, and king
Charles, was carried on in a rather arbitrary, and -
so unsuccessful a manner. A man of archbishop
Laud’s temper was very unfit to introduce that
primitive mode of church government among a
people remarkable for their love of liberty, and
for sobriety and moral conduct. To impose upon
that nation a set of canons, a liturgy of Laud’s
revision, and a declaration for sports on the sab-
bath, were such measures as “ proved the fatal
torch that put the two kingdoms into a flame.” *
When, in the year 1637, the liturgy, revised
and altered by Laud, was sent into Scotland, and
accompanied with a royal proclamation, com-
* Welwood's Memoirs, p. 45.
EPISCOPACY IN SCOTLAND. 153
manding all his majesty's subjects to receive it;
the Scots tumultuously refused it, and afterwards
assumed to themselves the liberty and power of
holding a general assembly of their church, in
which they passed an act for abjuring and abolish-
ing episcopacy. They also passed sentence of
deposition against the bishops; eight of them
were excommunicated, four excluded from the
ministerial function, and two only allowed to
officiate as pastors or presbyters. Upon this, most
of the bishops withdrew from Scotland, only four
remained in the country, three of whom renounced
their episcopal orders, viz. Alexander Ramsey,
bishop of Dunkeld, George. Graham, bishop of
Orkney, and James Fairby, bishop. of Argyle;
but the fourth, George Guthrey, bishop of Murray,
kept his ground, and weathered the storm. .
In consequence of the Scots’ assembly abolish-
ing episcopacy as unlawful, Bishop Hall, at the
recommendation of Archbishop Laud, undertook
to write a book in defence of the DIVINE RIGHT
OF EPISCOPACY, as a counterbalance to the pro-
ceedings of the Scots. Bishop Hall sent a rude
draught or skeleton of his intended work to Arch-
bishop Laud for his inspection and approbation.
The following, according to, Heylin,* were the
original points and propositions submitted to the
* Heylin's Life of Laud, pp. 398, 399.
154 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
- Archbishop, together with his Grace's remarks,
and alterations :—‘ That episcopacy is a lawful,
most ancient, holy, and divine institution, (as it is
joined with imparity, and superiority of jurisdic-
tion) and therefore where it hath through God's
providence obtained, cannot, by any human power, -
be abdicated without a manifest violation of God's
ordinance. |
* That the presbyterian government, however
vindicated under the glorious names of Christ's
kingdom, and ordinance, hath no true footing
either in Scripture, or the practice of the church
in all ages from Christ’s till the present; and that
howsoever it may be of use, in some cities or
territories, wherein episcopal government through
iniquity of times cannot be had ; yet to obtrude it
upon a church otherwise settled under an acknow-
ledged monarchy, is utterly incongruous and
unjustifiable.”
In order to prove these two points, he was to
lay down some propositions or postulata, .as the
ground work of his proceedings; which were the
following, before they were altered and revised :—
(1) * That government, which was of apostolical
institution, cannot be denied to be of divine right.
(2.) Not only that government which was directly
commanded .and enacted, but.also that. which
was practised and recommended by the apostles
to the church, must justly pass for an apostolic
DIVINE: RIGHT OF. EPISCOPACY. 155
institution. (3.) "That which the apostles by
Divine inspiration instituted, was not for the pre-
sent time, but for contmuance. (4.) The univer-
sal practice of the church, immediately succeed-
ing the apostles, is the best and surest cemmen-
tary upon the practice of the apostles, or upon
their expressions. (5.) We may not entertain so
irreverent an opinion of the saints and fathers of
the primitive church, that they who were the
immediate successors of the apostles would, or
durst set up a government, either faulty, or of
their own heads. | (6.) If. they would have been
so presumptuous, yet they could not have diffused
an uniform form of government threugh the world
in so short a space. (7.) The ancient histories
of the church, and writings of the eldest fathers,
are rather to be believed in the report of the primi-
tive form of.the church government, than those of
this last age. (8.) Those whom the ancient
church of God, and the holy and orthodox fathers
condemned for heretics, are not fit to be followed
as authors of our opinion or practice for church
government. (9.) The accession of honourable
titles or privileges, makes no difference in the
substance of the calling. (10.) Those scriptures
wherein a new form of government is grounded,
‘have need to be very clear and unquestionable,
and more evident than those whereon the former
rejected polity is raised. (11.) If that order.
156 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
which, they say, Christ set for the government of
the church (which they call the kingdom and
ordinance of Christ) be but one, and undoubted,
then it would, and shall have been ere this, agreed
upon against them, what, and which it is. (12.) If -
this (which they pretend) be the kingdom, and
_ ordinance of Christ, then if any essential part of it
be wanting, Christ’s kingdom is not erected in the
church. (13.) Christian polity requires no impos-
sible or absurd thing. (14.) Those tenets which
are new and unheard of in all ages of the church,
(in many and essential points) are well worthy to
be suspected. (15.) To depart from the practice
of the universal church of Christ, (even from the
apostles’ times) and to betake ourselves volunta-
tarily to a new form, lately taken up, cannot but
be odious and highly scandalous.”
** These first delineations of the . portraiture,”
says Heylin, * being sent to Lambeth in the end
of October, 1639, were generally well approved
of by the Metropolitan. Some lines there were
which he thought too much shadow and umbrage
might be taken at them, if not otherwise qualified
with a more perfect ray of light. And thereupon
he takes the pencil in his hand, 'and with some
alterations, accompanied with many kind expres--
sions of a fair acceptance, he sent them back
again to be completely limned and coloured by
that able hand."
4
DIVINE RIGHT OF EPISCOPACY. 157
The following were the remarks and alterations
made by Laud, in a letter to Bishop Hall.
* Since you are pleased so worthily and bro-
ther-like to acquaint me with the whole. plot of
your intended work, and to yield it up to my
censure and better advise, (so you are pleased to
write) I do not only thank you heartily for it, but
shall in the same brotherly way, and with equal
freedom, put some few animadversions, such as
occur on the sudden, to your further considera-
tion, aiming at nothing but what you do, the
perfection of the work in which so much is
concerned. And first, for Mr. George Graham,
(whom Bishop Hall had signified to have re-
nounced his episcopal function) I leave you: free
to work upon his business and his ignorance as
you please, assuring myself that you will not
depart from.the gravity of yourself, or the cause
therein. Next you say in the first head, That
episcopacy ts an ancient, holy, and divine institu-
tion. It must needs be ancient and holy if divine.
Would it not be more full went it thus ?—So
ancient, as that it is of divine institution. Next
you define episcopacy by being joined with
imparity and superiority of jurisdiction, but this
seems short; for every archpresbyter's or arch-
deacon's place is so; yea, and so was Mr. Hen-
‘derson in his chair at Glasgow, unless you will
define it by a distinction of order. I draw the
158 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
superiority, not from the jurisdiction. which: is
attributed.to bishops jure positivo, in their audi-
ence of ecclesiastical matters; but from that
which is intrinsical and original in. the power of
excommunication. Again, you say in the first
point, That where episcopacy hath obtained, it
cannot be abdicated without violation of God's
ordinance. This proposition I conceive is zȣer
minus habenies; for never was there any church
yet, where it hath not obtained. The christian
faith was never yet planted any where, but the
very first feature of a church was by, or with
episcopacy. And wheresoever now episcopacy
is not suffered to be, it is by such an abdication,
for certainly there it was à principio. In your
second head, you grant that the presbyterian ,
government may be of use, where episcopacy
may not be had. First, I pray you consider
whether this conversion be not needless here,
and in itself of a dangerous consequence. Next
I conceive there is no place where episcopacy
.may not be had, if there be a church more than.in
title only. Thirdly, since they challenge their
presbyterian fiction to be Christ's kingdom .and
ordipance, (as yourself expresseth) and .cast ,qut
episcopocy as opposite to it, we must not use any
mincing terms, but unmask them plainly; nor
shall I.ever give way.to hamper ourselves for.fegr
of speaking plain truth, though it be against
DIVINE RIGHT OF EPISCOPACY. 159
Amsterdam or Geneva: and this must be sadly
thought on.
Concerning your postulata, I shall pray you to
allow me the like freedom; amongst which the
two first are true, but, as exprest, too restrictive.
For episcopacy is not so to be asserted unto
apostolical institution, as to bar it from looking
higher, and from fetching 1t materially and origi-
nally in the ground and intention of it, from Christ
himself; though perhaps the apostles formalized it.
And here give me leave a little to enlarge. The
adversaries of episcopacy are not only the furious -
Arian heretics, (out of which are now raised
Prynne, Bastwick, and our Scettish masters) but
some also of a milder and subtiler alloy, both in
the Genevan and Roman faction. And it will
become the Church of England so to viadicate it
against the furious Puritans, as that we may not
lay it open to be wounded by either of the other
two, more cunning, and more learned adver- '
saries. -Not to the Roman faction, for that will
be content, it shall be Juris divint mediati, by,
far from, and under the pope, that so the govern-
ment of the church may be monarchical in him;
but not immediatt, which makes the church aris-
tocratical in the bishops. This is the Malian
rock, not the Genevan; for that will not deny
episcopacy to be Juris divent, so you will take it,
ut suadentis vel approbantis, so you will net take
160 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
it as universaliter imperantis; for then Geneva
might escape; e£ citra considerationem durantis ;
for then, though they had it before, yet now upon
wiser thoughts they may be without it, which
Scotland, says now, and who will may say it after,
if this be good divinity: and then all in that time
shall be democratical. I am bold to add, because
in your second postulatum, I find that episcopacy
is directly commanded ; but you go not so far as
to meet with this subtilty of Beza, which is the
great rock in the lake of Geneva. In your nine
postulatum, that the accession of honourable
titles, or privileges, makes no difference in the
substance of the calling, you mean the titles of
Archbishops, Primates, Metropolitans, Patriarchs,
&c. "Tiswell; and I presume you do so: but
then in any case take heed you assert it so, as
that the faction lay not hold of it, as if the bishops
were but the title of honour, and the same calling
with a priest; for that they all aim at, &c. The
eleventh postulatum is larger, and I shall not
repeat it, because 1 am sure you retain a copy of
what you write to me, being the ribs of the work;
nor shall I say more to it, than that it must be
warily handled for fear of a saucy answer, which .
is more ready with them a great deal than a
learned one. I presume I am pardoned already
.for this freedom by your submission of all to me.
And now I heartily pray you to send me up,
DIVINE RIGHT OF EPISCOPACY. - 161
(keeping a copy to yourself against the accidents
of carriage) not the whole work together, but
each particular head or postulatum, as you finish
it; that so we here may be the better able to
consider of it, and the work come on faster. . So
to God's blessed protection," &c. &c.
Such was the freedom Archbishop Laud took
with Bishop Hall, and the judgment he passed
upon the outlines of the work; and Heylin tells
us **that the bishop of Exon found good cause to
correct the obliquity of his opinion," according to
the above animadversions. When Bishop Hall
finished his treatise, he submitted it, before it went
to press, to the final perusal of the archbishop,
who: read it over with care and diligence. :'The
treatise was, in. some places, altered by the arch-
bishop, contrary to Bishop Halls inclinations.
Notice was taken: that Bishop Hall had spoken
too favourably of the morality of the sabbath; and
that the superstition of the sabbatarians. was but
slightly touched upon; whereas the archbishop
* thought that some smarter plaister to that sore
might have done no harm." His Grace disap-
proved of Bishop Hall's waving the question,
Whether episcopacy was'a distinct order, or only
an higher degree of the same order; and of his
advancing the divine right of episcopacy no higher
than the apostles ; whereas he would have it-derived
M
162 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL. |
from Christ himself. Upon this the archbishop
observed, that “in the judgment of such learned
men as he had consulted, it was the main ground
of the whole cause; and therefore he desired him
to weigh it well, and to alter it with his own pen -
as soon as might be." His Grace also was not
pleased with the sentiment, that presbytery was of
use, where episcopacy could not be obtained. But
that which gave him the greatest offence was,
that Bishop Hall had positively aud determi-
nately bestowed the title of Antichrist upon the
pope: this His Grace would by no means allow,
as being so contrary to the judgment of many
learned protestants, as well as his own. The arch-
bishop thought fit to acquaint the king with this,and
so to submit it to the royal will and pleasure: and
respecting which, he wrote thus to Bishop Hall:
“ The last (with which I durst not but. acquaint
His Majesty) is about Antichrist, which title in
three or four places. you. bestow upon the pope
positively and determinately ; whereas king James
of blessed memory, having brought strong proof
in a work of his, as you well know, to prove the
pope to be Antichrist ; yet being afterwards chal-
lenged about it, he made this answer, when the
king, that now is, went into Spain, and acquainted
him with it, That he writ that not concludingly,
but by way of argument only, that the pope and
his. adherents might 8&6, there was as good. and
4
»
DIVINE RIGHT OF EPISCOPACY. 163
better arguments to prove him Antichrist, than
for the pope to challenge temporal jurisdiction
over kings. ‘The whole passage being known to
me, I:could not but speak with the king about it,
who commanded me to write unto'you, that you
might qualify your expression in these particulars,
and: so not' differ from the known judgment of his:
pious and learned father. This-is easily done
with your own pen, and the rather, because all
protestants join not in this opinion of Antichrist.”
According to this advice, Bishop Hall complied,
though contrary to his own sentiments, to qualify
some of his expressions, and to expunge others,
" to the contentment of his sovereign, the satis-
faction of his metropolitan, and his own great
honour."* So, in some few things, the celebrated
treatise upon the Divine Right of Episcopacy, was
modelled according to the views and sentiments |.
of Laud. It is evident from the above remarks
of the archbishop, that Bishop Hall was one of
those bishops; who did not insist upon reading
the book of sports, but duly regarded the morality
of the: sabbath. Heylin informs us, that all the -
bishops did not join their hearts and bands.
together in: carrying on the work of uniformity
according to Archbishop Laud's plan, but threw
* Heylin's Life of Laud, pp. 400, 405, 406. Neal’s Hist.
of the Puritans, vol. ii, p. 322.
M 23
164 ' "LIFE OF ‘BISHOP HALL.
obstacles in the way, and:exposed the measures
of Laud to the public hatred... ** For such ^was.
their desire;" says he, ‘“to ingratiate themselves.
amongst the people, that some of them being
required to return the nàmes of such ministers as
refused the reading of the book, (of sports) made
answer, that they would not turn ixformers against
their brethren, there being enough besides them-
selves to perform that office. Others conceived,
that they had very well performed their duty; and
consulted their own peace and safety:also; by
waving all proceedings against them in their'own.
consistories, wherein they must appear as: the
principal agents, and turning them over to be
~ censured by the. High Commission, where their
names might never come in question.” *
Bishop Hall himself tells us, that he had been.
charged with being too favourable to-those who
were denominated puriians, merely because they.
were conscientious and diligent in' the discharge
of their duties : and on that account that:he had
been misrepresented: and complained of to his
' metropolitan. .: We: may probably conclude, that
one reason why Laud recommended Bishop: Hall.
to write on the Divine. Right of Episcopacy was.
to try him whether his view of episcopacy: was.
* Heylin’s Life of Laud, p. 313. |
DIVINE RIGHT..OF BPISCOPACY. 165
what it should be; for he was suspected, on |
account of his moderation and piety, to entertain
some “ obliquity of opinion." *
Bishop Hall dedicated his Treatise on the.
Divine. Right of Episcopacy to Charles I. in which
he states that he. undertook the work on account
that episcopacy had suffered in the north, mean-
ing Scotland, * to the height of patience ;" that it
was ‘‘reported that one George Grahame, bishop .
of Orkney, had openly, before the whole body of .
the assembly, renounced his episcopal. function,
and.craved pardon for having accepted it, as if
thereby he had committed some heinous offence.”
"The.Bishop also intimates that he had ‘ met with
some affronts” within his own. diocese .of Exeter
and jurisdiction.
Bishop Hall was the most celebrated writer of
his times in defence of the Church of England;
and his Treatise on the Divine Right of Episco-
pacy is a.proof of his deep research, erudition,
and .piety; he brings forward such proofs and
arguments. for episcopacy as cannot be shaken,
and in the conclusion of the Treatise he recapitu-
lates the seyeral heads.of the subject, and, with
zeal and pious.earnestness, addresses his readers
and brethren, saying, “ for Christ’s sake, for the
* See Heylin’s Life of Laud, p. 402, |
466 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
‘church's sake, for your souls’ sake, be exhorted
to: hold fast to this holy institution of your blessed
Saviour and his unerring Apostles; and bless God
for episcopacy. Do but cast your. eyes a little
‘back, :and see what noble- instruments of God's
glory he hath been pleased to raise up in this very
church of ours, out of this sacred vocation : what
famous servants.of God; what strong champions
of truth, and renowned antagonists of Rome.and
her superstitions ; ; what admirable preachers;
what. incomparable writers; yea, what constant
and undaunted martyrs and confessors; men,
that gave their blood for the Gospel; and
embraced their faggots flaming, which many gre-
gary (ordinary, or common) professors held
enough to carry cold and painless, to the wonder
and gratulation of all foreign churches, and to the
unparallelled glory of his church and nation?
« What: christian church under heaven hath, in
&o shert a time, yielded.so many glorious lights of
the gospel, so.many able and prevalent adver-
saries of schism aud antichristianism, so many
eminent authors of learned works, which shall out-
bid time itself. ‘Let envy grmd her teeth: the
memory of these. worthy Prelates shall be ever
sweet and blessed.
* Neither doubt I, but that it will please God,
out of the same rod of Aaron still to raise such.
blossoms and fruit, as shall win him glory to all
BAGSHAW. | |. 107
etermty. Go you on to honour these your reve-
rend pastors; to hate all factious withdrawings
from that government, which comes the nearest
of any church upon earth to the apostolical."*
Through the overbearing conduct of Laud, both
in civil and ecclesiastical affairs on the one hand,
and the factious and turbulent spirit of the separa-
-tists on the other, the tranquillity of the church
was much disturbed. Bagshaw, a lawyer of some
standing in the Middle Temple, being elected a
Reader or Lecturer in that house for the Lent
vacation, boldly laid the axe to'the root of episco-
pacy, by calling into question the right of bishops
to have place and vote in Parliament, and their
power and authority altogether. . In his Lectures
on the 25th Edw. III. c. 7, he maintained that
Acts of Parliament were valid without the assent:
of the lords spiritual. That no beneficed clerk
was capable of temporal jurisdiction at the mak-
ing that law ; and, that no bishop, without calling
a synod, had power as a diocesan, to convict a
heretic.—Laud, when informed of this, told the
king that Bagshaw had justified the Scots Cove
manterB in decrying the temporal jurisdiction of
churchmen, and the undoubted right of the
bishops to their seats in parliament: upon which
* See Bishop Hall’s Works, vol. ix, pp..623, 624.
168 © LIFE OF BISHOP: HALL.
Bagshaw was immediately interdicted all. further
reading on those points; and though he humbly
petitioned the Lord Keeper and the Archbishop
for liberty to proceed, he could get no other
answer, than **it had been better for him. not to
have meddled with that argument, which should
stick closer to him than he was aware of."*
Whereupon he retired into the country. |
The year 1640 began with a Parliament and:
Convocation. Such was now the state-of affairs,
that. the king was under the necessity of calling a
parliament, after an intermission of nearly twelve
years, in order to renew the war. with Scotland.
The two houses assembled according to their
summons, in the month of April, with’ the -usual:
formalities. The king condescended to open the
parliament with only the following -short- ‘speech
from the throne :—
* My Lords and Gentlemen,
“There never was a king .that had-a more .
great and weighty cause to call his people together.
than myself. I will not trouble you with- the
particulars: I have informed my Lord Keeper. |
and commanded him to speak,:.and to desire
your attention.”
* Heylin’s Life of Laud, pp. 406, 407. Neal's Hist, of the
Puritans, vol. ii, p. 323.
MEETING : OF. PARLIAMENT. 169° :
This short speech appears a kind of preface .to
Sir John Finch, the Lord Keeper's long speech, ~
in which he commented on.the proceedings of the
Scots against the king,.and .his Majesty’s. urgent
want of supply towards. vindicating his honour,
and intimated to them also at the same time that
his Majesty was. far from intending to preclude
them from their right of enquiring into the state
of the .kingdom, and of offering him petitions for
redress of grievances. But the Commons, instead |
of beginning with the supply according to his -
Majesty’s. wish, appointed committees for reli-
gion and grievances, which disobliged the king so
much, that after several fruitless attempts to per-
suade them to.grant him a subsidy, he dissolved
the parliament in. displeasure, without passing a
single act, after they had sat about three weeks.
But other means of obtaining a. subsidy were
employed, which were highly offensive and griev-
ous. to.the.people. The odtwum.of these proceed-
ings fell on Laud.and Strafford, who were libelled
and threatened with.the fury of the populace. -In
the month of May, 1640, the:archbishop's palace
at Lambeth :was attacked by the mob; .one of the
ringleaders -was-apprebended and suffered death.
During this month, and the whole summer, there
* Warner's Eccles, Hist. of England, vol. ii, p,628..
170 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
was much disturbance both in London and.in the -
country. | |
The convocation which .sat with this ' parlia-
was opened April 14, next day after opening of
parliament, with much more splendour and mag-
nificence than the situation of affairs required.
The convocation sermon was preached by Dr..
Turner, Canon Residentiary. of St. Paul's, from
Matt. xvi, 16. ** Behold, I send you forth as sheep
among wolves:” after which. they adjourned to
the Chapter House, where the king’s writ of
summons being read, the archbishop, in a Latin
speech, recommended to the lower house the
electing of..a prolocutor, to be presented to him-
gelf-or his commissary in.the chapel of Henry VII.
on Friday following, to which time and place the
convocation was adjourned.
On April 17, after divine service, Dr. Steward,
Dean of Cbichester and Clerk of the Closet, was
presented to the.archbishop as prolocutor, whom
his grace approved of, and then produced his
Majesty's commission under,the great seal, autho-
rizing him to. ** consult and agree upon the expla-
nation or. amendment of any canons then in force,
or.for making , sach new ones, .as should be
thought convenient fer. the. government of the
church.” The commission was to remain in force
during the present session of parliament, and no
longer. and by a singular clause, nothing was to
CONVOCATION, 171
be concluded. without the. archbishop being a
party in the consultation. The latitude. of this
commisssion was very acceptable to the majority
of the. convocation ; :and in return for this testi-
mony-of his Majesty's confidence, they voted him
six subsidies, to be paid him in six years, at the
rate of four:shillings in the. pound. The arch-
bishop brought in some. other canons against
papists, against the spread of Socinian heresy ;
and it was ‘also then decreed that the proceedings
and. penalties against popish recusants should, as
far as they are applicable, stand. in full force
against. all separatists. and sects, who refuse
repairing to their parish churches, for hearing
divine service, and receiving the holy commu-
nion. |
Thus far‘the convocation proceeded, when the
parliament was suddenly dissolved. "The convo-
cation, according to ancient custom, should have
broke up at the same time; but that one of the
lower house having acquainted Laud with a pre-
cedent in the 27th year of Queen Elizabeth, of
the convocation's granting a subsidy to be raised
upon al the clergy, after the breaking up of
parliament, and levying it by their own synodical
act only, under the penalty of ecclesiastical cen-
sures. Hence it was concluded that the convo-
cation might sit independent of the parliament,
‘172 - LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
and..therefore, instead of dissolving, they only
adjourned for.a few days to take further advice.*
Laud relying upon .this single precedent, ap-
plied to the king for a commission. to continue
the convocation during his Majesty's pleasure, in
order:to finish the canons and..constitutions, and
to grant. the subsidies already voted. . The case
being referred to the judges, the :majority - of
whom gave it as their opinion, **that the convo-
cation, being called by the king’s.writ.under the
great seal, doth continue till it be dissolved by
writ.or commission under: the great seal, notwith-
standing the parliament be: dissolved." .
Signed May 14, 1640, by John Finch, C.M.S.:
H. MANCHESTER, ROB. HEATH,
J. BRAMSTON, EDW. LITTLETON,
RALPH WHITFIELD, J. BANKS. ..
Upon this a commission under the great seal was
granted, and the; convocation was re-assembled,
though the opinion of several gentlemen of the
long robe, and of many others, was against it.T
But'the convocation was further encouraged to
proceed by his Majesty's message sent by Sir
H. Vane, Secretary of State, who acquainted
* Warner's Eccles. Hist. of England, vol. li, pp. 528, 529.
+ See Fuller’s Church Hist. b. ix, p. 168. Neal’s Hist. of
the Puritans, vol. ii, p. 327, &c. ‘Heylin’s Life of Laud, pp.
428—429.
" * CONVOCATION... ‘ 473
them, “ that it was his royal pleasure that none
of the: prelates or: clergy should withdraw from
the synod or: convocation till the affairs they had.
in command from the king: were perfected and
finished."
Upon this dubious foundation the convocation
was continued, and a committee of twenty-six
appointed to prepare matters for the debate of
the house; but the mob bemg so furious as to
threaten to pull down the convocation house,
the king ordered a guard of the Middlesex
militia, commanded by Endymion Porter, groom
of: the bed-chamber, a papist, to. protect. the
Synod. It was: dissolved on the 29th of May by
a special mandate or writ from his Majesty, after
it: had continued twenty-five sessions. The
Canons, after being approved by the privy coun-
cil, were subscribed by as: many of both houses —
of convocation as were present, and' then trans-
mitted to the provincial Synod: of ‘York, by which .
they were subscribed-at once, without so much
as debating either matter or form.: Neal says in
his History: of the Puritans, vol. ii, pp.328--329,
that '** Dr. John: Williams, ‘bishop of Lincoln,
was:in the Tower, and: had. no concern with the
Canons. Dr. Goodman, bishop of Gloucester,
à concealed papist, was the only prelate who
declined the subscription; till the Archbishop
threatened liim with deprivation;: and the rest of
174 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
his: brethren’ pressing him to comply, he was
persuaded: te put his name to: the book: but
several of the members of the lower house
avoided the test by. withdrawing before the: day
of subscription; for, of above one hundred.and
sixty, of which both houses of convocation: con-
sisted, there were not many more than one
hundred names to the book." Heylin, in: his
Life of Archbishop Laud, contradicts the above
account of Neal, and says that the Canons were
approved by all the Clergy, ** who were called
up to the house of bishops.to be present at the
subscribing of them, which was. accordingly per-
formed May 29th, by the bishops, deans, and
archdeacons in their seniority, and promiscuously
by the rest of the clergy, till all the members. had
subscribed; every ‘man’s heart going together
with his hand, as itis to be presumed from all
men of that holy profession. Recusant there was
none, but the bishop:of.Gloucester.*
The irregularity however of continuing — the
synod ‘after the dissolution of parliament has been
concluded hence, that the convocation consisting
of bishops, deans, archdeacons, and clerks, the
three former act in their personal capacities only,
and may give for themselves what subsidies they
* Heylin’s Life-of Laud, pp. 446, 446-
CANONS: 175
please. But the clerks being chosen. for their
respective cathedrals or dioceses, to sit as long. as.
the parliament continues, desist from being public:
persons, as soon as it is dissolved, and lose the.
character of representatives ; ‘they are. then. no-
more than private clergymen, who, though they
may give the king what sums of money they please
for themselves, cannot vote away the estates of
their brethren, unless they are re-elected. It waa
also contrary to all Jaw and custom, both before
and. since the act of, submispeon. of tha. clergy to
Henry VIII, exeept in. the single instance of
Queen Elizabeth,*
The canons of this synod cansisted.of seventeen
articles, and. were published, Juse 30, 1640... The
following is an abstract of. those: canons, which
were: made the subjact.of.so.muah contention and
debate in the.next. parliament. The reader. may
judge fon:himself about..the offenee given on one
side,. and:the revenge: taken.on.the other. .
1. The first Canon is concerning regal power;
where it is. decreed. that: the.order.of. kings is of '
divine right, being the.ordinance of God himself,
founded on the Laws of nature and revelatien, by.
which the supreme power over all persons, eccle-
siastical and civil, is given:.to them;. that they
* Warners Eccles, Hist. of Eugland, vol. ii, p. 530. Neal's
' Hist, of the Puritans, vol. ii, p. 329.
. M6 LIFE OF. BIBHOP HALL.
have the care of God’s.church, and the power of
dissolving both national. and provincial councils:
that for any persons to set up in the king's realms
"any independent coercive power, either papal. or
popular, is treasonable against God, and the king ;
and for subjects to bear arms against the king,.
either offensive or defensive, upon any pretence
whatever, is at least to resist the powers. ordained
of God ; and though they do not invade but only
resist, St. Paul says, **'They shall receive damna-
tion.” Though tribute, custom,. aid, and subsidy
be: due to the king by the law ó0f God, nature and
nations, yet subjects have a right and property in
their goods and estates, &c. "That if any clergy-
man should neglect to publish these explications,
upon one Sunday in every quarter of the year, he
shall be suspended ; or if in any sermon, or public
lecture, he. shall maintain any position contrary
to it, he shall be excommunicated and suspended
for two years; and offending a second time, shall
be deprived.
2: Here it is decreed that the day of the king's
inauguration should be. observed with morning
prayers and a sermon, at which all persons shall
be present.
3. In this, the suppressing of the growth of
Popery is intended, &c,
4. This decrees that no person shall import,
CANONS. | 174
disperse, or print any Socinian books, on pain of
excommunication, &c.
5. This ordains that the canon against Papists,
shall be in force against sectaries, as far as it
is applicable; and the clause against the books
of Socinians, should be in force against all the
books that are written against the doctrine aud
government of the church.
6. This decreed the following oath to be taken
by all archbishops, bishops, priests, and deacons, -
before a public notary within six months:—I,
A.B. do swear, that I do approve the doctrine,
and discipline, or government established in the
Church of England, as containing all things
necessary to salvation; and that I will not endea-
vor, by myself or any other, directly or indirectly,
to bring in Popish doctrine, contrary to that
which is established; nor will 1 ever give my
consent to alter the government of this church by
archbishops, bishops, deans, and archdeacons,
&c. as it stands now established, and as by right
it ought to stand, nor yet ever to subject it to the
ursurpations and superstitions of the see of Rome.
And all these things I do plainly and sincerely
acknowledge and swear, according to the plain.
and common sense and understanding of the
same words, without any equivocation, or mental
evasions, or secret reservation whatever; and
this I do heartily, willingly, and truly, upon the
| N
178 LIFE OF BISHOP MALL.
faith of a Christian. So help me God in Jesus
Christ.” mE
If any beneficed person in the church refused
this oath, he was, after a month, suspended from
his office; after a second month, from his bene-
fice; and after a third, deprived. All the
members of the universities, ‘or those who havé
taken a degree, as lawyers, physicians, &c. were
required to take this oath: and all governors of
halls and colleges, all schoolmasters, candidates
for holy orders, and those who have licence to
preach. |
7. This canon declares that the placing the
communion table at the east end of the church
is in its own nature indifferent ; nor does it imply
that it is, or ought to be esteemed a proper altar, —
though it may be called ‘so in the sense of the
primitive church: but as Queen Elizabeth’s in-
junctions have ordered it to be placed where the
altar was, it was judged proper that all churches
and chapels should conform to that order. And
it is recommended to all people, that they do
reverence at their entries in and going out of the
church ; and that all communicants come to the
rails to receive the communion, which has been
heretofore carried up and down. : '
^8. This canon enjoins all public preathers to
declare positively and plainly, twice a year, that
CANONS, — 179
the rites and. ceremonies of the. church are lawful,
to which it:ig the duty of all people to conform.
9. By this it was decreed that no other articles
of enquiry should be used at visitations, than
what were contained in a book to be drawn up
by this synod.
10. The subject of this is tbe regular and mora]
conversation of the clergy.
11. The bishops were to grant no patent to
chancellors, or officials, for any term longer than
their lives, aud to reserve in their own hands the
power of instituting to benefices, and of licensing
. topreach.
. 12. No lay chancellor, or commissary, shall
inflict any censure upon the clergy, for any crimi-
nal causes, except neglect of appearing: all
others are to be heard by the bishop, or with the
assistance of his chancellor, and if the bishop
cannot attend, by the chancellor assisted with two
grave divines of the diocese, appointed by the
bishop.
13. No sentence of excommunication, or abso-
lution, is allowed to be pronounced by any but a
‘priest, either in.open consistory or in the church,
having fitat received it under , the seal of an eccle-
siastical judge.
14. This admits of no commutation of penance,
without consent of the bishop; and the money to
be disposed of to charitable uses.
180 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
15. No executor shall be cited into any. court
or office, within ten days after the death of the
testator, though he may prove the will within such
a time.
16. No other licence to marry, but the arch-
bishop's, is allowed by this canon to any party;
unless the man or woman: shall have lived in .the
jurisdiction of the ordinary to whom they apply, !
a month before the licence is desired.
17. The last canon ‘forbids a citation: from
spiritual courts, except under the hand and seal
of one of the judges within thirty days after the
crime is committed ; and until the party is. con-
victed: by two witnesses, he. may purge himself
by oath, without paying any fee, provided the
canon does not extend to schism, incontinence,
misbehaviour at divine service, obstinate incon-
formity, or the like."* |
When these canons were published, they were
generally disliked; and several pamphlets: were
written against them. Some objected to the first
as subversive of the English constitution, because
it declares in favour of the absolute power .of
kings, and that 2£ is unlawful to use.defensive arms
on any pretence whatever against the king. The
* Warners Eccles. Hist. .of, England, vol. ii, pp. 530-533.
Heylin's Life of Laud, fol.ed. pp. 422—440. — Neal's Hist. of
the Puritans, vol. ii, pp. 329—336.
. CANONS. 181
puritans disapproved of the fifth, sixth, seventh,
and eighth canons: but all the clergy were nearly
concerned ‘in the sixth, being required by the 2d
of November to take the oath mentioned therein.
The London clergy and others drew up a petition
against the oath to the privy council. Petitions
from. most counties in England were made against
it: some complaining of it as contrary to the oath
of supremacy, and others of the ET CETERA in the
middle. Others objected to the authority of the
synod to impose an oath; and many confessed
that they wished some things in the discipline of
the church might be altered, and therefore could
not swear never to attempt it m a proper way.
.Some of the bishops endeavoured to satisfy the
.scruples of their clergy by giving the most favour-
able interpretation of the oath. Bishop Hall told
them that it only meant as follows: “That I do
so far approve of. the discipline and doctrine of
.this church, as that I do believe there is nothing
in any other pretended discipline or doctrine
necessary to salvation, besides that which is con-
tained in the doctrine and discipline of the church
of England. And as I do allow the government
by-archbishops, bishops, deans, archdeacons, so
I will not, upon the suggestion of any factious
persons, go about to alter the same as it now
stands, and as by due right (being so established)
182 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
it ought to stand in the church of England.”*—
But many of the bishops compelled their clergy
to take the oath; and Fuller, in his Church His-
tory, tells us,f that to his certain “knowledge
some of the bishops obliged them to take it Knéel-
ing’, a ceremony never required i in taking the oaths
of allegiance and supremacy. Suth severe and
unbecoming degree of power some of the bishops
then assumed !
Dr. Sanderson, afterwards bishop of Lincoln,
acquainted the archbishop, by letter, with the
difficulties of enforcing the oath; he obser'ved,
* that multitudes, of ‘churchmen, not only of
the preciser sort, but of such as were regular
and conformable, would’ utterly refuse to take
thé oath, or be brought to it with much diffi-
culty and reluctance; so that, unless by his
Majesty's special direction, the pressing" the oath
may be forborn for a‘time; or that, a shoft expla-
nation of some passages in it, most liable to
exception, be sent to the several persons who are
to administer the same, to be publicly read before
the tender of the said oath, the peace of this
church is apparently in danger to be more dis-
quieted by this one occasion, than by any thing
that has happened within our memories.”
* Nalson’s Collection, p. 496, &c.
t Book xi, p. 171.
CANONS. . 183
Jt is certain that this oath was much disliked
by almost:all the clergy, who, with:otbers, joined
in petition against it to the king, who was pleased
to send the following letter to the archbishop of
Canterbury, under tbe hand of the secretary of
state.
* May it please your Grace :
Iam by his Majestys command to let you
know,. that upon many petitions presented by
divers churchmen, as well in the diocese of Can-
terbury as York, to which many hands are sub-
scribed, as the mode of petitions now are, against
the oath in the canons made in the last synod, his
Majesty's. pleasure.is, that as he took,order before
his coming into these parts, that the execution of
neither should be pressed on those that . were
already beneficed. in the church, which was
.ordered at the: council board in your Grace's
presence, but that it should be administered
to those who were to receive orders. and to be
admitted; it is his Majesty’s pleasure, that those
should. be dispensed with also, and that there be
.no prosecution thereof till the meeting of the
convocation. mE
York, Sept. 30, 1640. * H. VANE.” *
* Nalson's Collection, p. 500. Neal’s Hist. of the Puritans,
vol. ii, p. 337.
^
184 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
We have seen above* the opinion of Bishop Hall
with regard to this troublesome oath, and he tells
us also in the tract called, .** Some Specialities in
his Life,” written by himself, that in consequence
of this oath, and some other opposition, his peace
was much disturbed: ** What messages of caution
I had from some of my wary brethren, and what
expostulatory letters 1 had from above, (from
Archbishop Laud) I need not relate. Sure I am,
I had peace and comfort at home, in the happy
sense of that general unanimity and loving cor-
respondence of. my clergy, till, in the last year of
my presiding there, (as bishop of Exeter) after the
^ synodical oath was set on foot, (which yet 1 did
never tender to any one minister of my diocese) by
‘the incitation of some busy interlopers. of the
neighbour country.”
With regard to this unpopular oath, we dis-
cover in Bishop Hall such moderation:and temper
highly becoming a christian bishop.
Amidst much factious and discontented spirit
of many of the English, the king was obliged to
prepare to go. to war with the Scots, who had
now a second time marched an army to the bor-
ders, and were ready to invade the English. side.
An army was raised, and the king in.person
commanded it: the Earls of Northumberland
* Page 181. -
WAR WITH THE SCOTs. 185
and Strafford were appointed generals, and Lord
Conway general of the cavalry. It soon appeared
that some of the English nobility were not for
conquering the Scots, and the soldiers manifested
no zeal for his Majesty's cause; so that after a
small skirmish, the Scots army passed the T weed,
Aug. 21, and on the 30th took possession of New-
castle, the king's army retreating as far as York,
leaving them masters of Northumberland, Cum-
berland, and Durham, where they subsisted their
army, and raised what contributions they pleased.
In this situation of affairs, a petition, signed by
twelve English peers, was sent to his Majesty, to
discontinue the war, complaining.of many griev- -
ances, as the inconveniences of carrying on the
war with the Scots, the increase of popery, &c.
and of the canons made in the last convocation.
"The city of London also petitioned, and the Scots
themselves tendered to his Majesty certain terms
of accommodation. The king, finding it impossi-
ble to carry on the war, appointed commissioners
to treat with the Scots at Rippon, who agreed to
a cessation. of arms for two months from the
26th of October, the Scots to have £850. a day
towards the subsistence of their army ;* and the
treaty to be adjourned to London, where a par- :
liament was immediately to be convened.
* See Harris's Life of Charles I. p. 364, Ed. 1814.
CHAPTER V.
On the 3d of November, 1640, this famous
parliament met, which has béen called the long
parliament, because it continued sitting with some
little intermission for above eighteen years: it
occasioned such extraordinary revolutions in
church and state, as were the scandal of their
own country, and the surprise of other countries.”
On the day of opening the parliament, his Majesty
‘declined the usual way of riding in state from
Whitehall to Westminster, but went by ‘water,
accompanied with several peers of the’ realm.
The king, in his speech from the throne, declared
his readiness tó redress all just grievances; but
some offence was taken, by his Majesty calling
the Scots, REBELS, when there was a pacification
subsisting.
* Heylin's Life of Laud, pp. 454-458. . Neal's Hist, of the
Puritans, vol. ii, p.338. Dugdale's Short View, pp.63, 64,
65. Harris’ Life of Charles I, p. 360, &c. Ed. 1814. Warner's
Eccles. Hist. of England, vol. ii, p. 638.
MEETING OF PARLIAMENT. 187 .
Before the session ef parliament “ the principal
members .consulted measures for securing the
frequency of parliaments ; for redressing ‘of griev-
ances in church. and state: and for binging the
king's arbitrary ministers to justice," án order to
accomplish which, it was thought expedient to set
some bounds to the prerogative, and to diminish
.the.power of. the bishops: probably they did;not
‘at first intend to overturn the civil and ecclesiasti-
.cal constitutions, dnd that they would have been
satisfied with a.certain degree of reform in church
and state; but in their proceedings, they went. to
such extremes as involved both in ruin.
At their first entrance upon‘ business, four com-
mittees were appointed : the first to receive peti-
tions about religious grievances; the second, for
the affairs of Scotland and Ireland ; the third,
for civil. grievances; and the fourth, concerning
popery, plots, &c.* About the 9th of November,
* Both houses petitioned his Majesty to appoint a fast for a
divine blessing upon their councels, which was observed Nov. 17.
Rev. Mr. Marshall and Mr. Burgess, two eminent puritan
divines, preached before the Commons, the former on 2 Chron.
xv, 2, ** The Lord is with you, while you are with him; if you
seek him he will be found of you, but if you forsake him he will
forsake you,": The latter'on Jer. 1, 5, “ They shall ask the way
to Zion with their faces thitherward, saying, Come, and Iet us
join ourselves to the Lord in a perpetual covenant that shall
not be forgotten." "The sermons were long, but delivered, says
Neal, with a great deal of caution: the house gave them fhauks,
and a piece of plate for their labors.:: The bishops of Durham
and Carlisle preached before the House of Lords in the Abbey
188 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
*' a great number of petitions was presented both |
from particular persons, and: some from multi-
tudes, and brought by troops of horsemen from
several counties, craving redress of grievances in
‘church and state.” * . Z
Among the grievances of religion, one of the
first things that came before the house was the
acts and canons of the late corivocation. Several
virulent speeches were made against the compi-
lers. Neal says that no one stood upin the behalf
of the canons but Mr. Holbourn, who is said to
have made a speech of two hours in their vindi-
cation; but his arguments made no impression
on the house, so 'that at the close of the debate
.it was unanimously resolved,— — :- 1
* That the clergy of England, convened in any
convocation or synod, or: otherwise, have. no
power to make any constitutions, canons, or acts
Church of Westminster. .On the following Sunday all the
members received the sacrament from the hands of Bishop
Williams, Dean of Westminster, See Neal's Hist. of the Puri-
tans, vol. ii, p, 348.
* Walkers Sufferings of the Clergy, parti, p. 3. ‘ The
first step they made was the entertaining petitions of grievances
from all parts of the realm, which made such a noise, as.if the
subjects of England had suffered under the greatest slavery aud
oppression that had ever been heard of; and, (being devised :
and framed by themselves,) were received with such great
. acceptance, as that the people began to shew no small expres-
sions of joy in their new reformers.” Dugdale’s Short View ef
the Troubles in England, p. 66. . -
t History of the Puritans, vol. ii, p. 350.
à
GRIEVANCES OF RELIGION. 189
whatsoever, in matters of doctrine, discipline, or
otherwise, to bind the clergy or laity of the land,
without consent of parliament. !
* That the several constitutions and canons
ecclesiastical, treated and agreed upon with the )
king’s licence, by the archbishops, bishops, and
clergy of the provinces of. Canterbury aud: York
in their several synods in the year 1640, do not
bind the clergy or laity of the land, or either of
them. | |
* That the several constitutions or canons,
made and agreed to in the convocations or synods
above mentioned, do contain in them many mat- .
ters contrary to the king's prerogative, to the
fundamental laws and statutes of this realm, to
the rights of parliament, to the prosperity and
liberty.of the subject, and matters tending to
sedition, and of daügerous consequence.
“That the several grants of benevolences
or contributions, granted .to his most excellent
Majesty. by the clergy, in the several. convoca-
tions or-synods above mentioned, are contrary to
the laws, and ought not to bind the clergy."
Upon the same day that the house of commons
passed the above resolutions, of which it may be
said, that they manifested more of anger and
prejudice, than of law .or reason, several warm
speeches. were. made.against the archbishop of
Canterbury, as the chief author of them; and a
190 ' LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
committee was appointed to enquire more parti-
eularly, how far His Grace had been concerned ‘in
the proceedings of the late convocation, and in
the treasonable design of subverting the religion
and laws of his country, in order to draw up
articles or charge against him. At the same time
a charge was laid against him in the house of
peers by the Scots commissioners, which being
read by Lord Paget, was then reported to
the commons at a conference between the two
houses. This charge consisted of divers griev-
ances, which occasioned. much disturbance in
Scotland. When this charge was reported to the
commons, the resentment of the house against the
archbishop immediately ‘broke out into a flame,
and many severe speeches were made against his
tate conduct. Sir Harbottle Grimstone, speaker
of that parliament which restored Charles II.
moved that the charge of the Scots commissioners
might be supported by an impeachment of their
wn; and that the question might now be put,
whether the ‘archbishop had been guilty of high
treason? Which being voted, Mr. Hollis. was
immediately:sent: up: to the bar.of the house of
‘Lords to.smpeach him in the name of all the
commons: of: England. : Afterwards the arch-
‘bishop was delivered to the custody of the Usher
‘of the: Black Rod, till. the house of commons
should deliver in their articles of impeachment.
IMPEACHMENT OF ARCHBISHOP’ LAUD. 191
Mr: Pym, Mr. Hampden, and Mr. Maynard, by
order of the commons, presented at the bar of the
house of Lords, fourteen articles iu support vof
their former charge of high treason agamst the
archbishop, which being read, the archbishop
made a short reply, and the lords voted him to
the tower, where he continued three or four years
before his trial came on.
As to the convocation which attended this par-
liament, it was, as usual, summoned and opened
Nov. 4th, 1840. Dr. Bargrave, dean of Canterbury
preached, dnd Dr. Steward, ^dean of Chichester,
was chosen'prolocutot, and was:presented to the
archbishóp's acceptance in King: Henry VIIth's
chapel, when His Grace made a pathetic speech,
lamenting the danger ‘of the church, and exhort-
ing every one present to perform the duty of their
places with resolution, and not to be wanting to
themselves, -or to the cause of religion. Nothing
of importance was transacted in this convocation,
the times béing so turbulent, and’ there being no
commission from’ the king. The bishops discon-
tinued their’ meeting, and the lower house gra-
dually dwindled away. A Mr. Warminstre, a
‘clergyman of the diocese of Worcester, convinced
of the invalidity of the late eanons, moved in this
convocation, that ‘“ they might cover the pit
‘which they had opened," and so prevent a'par-
liamentary inquisition, by petitioning the King
192 LIFE or BISHOP: HALL.
for leave to review them;—his motion: was
rejected, for they would not appear so mean as
to condemy themselves before they. were accused.
Mr. Warminstre published a defence of his motion,
wherein he bitterly speaks against the canons.and
proceedings of the late convocation: but in the
sufferings of the clergy he was not spared from
being sequestered.* .
Before archbishop Laud was confined in the
tower, the parliament released most of the church
and state prisoners. Noy. 16th, Dr. Williams,
bishop of Lincoln, was discharged from his impri-
sonment in the tower, and his fine remitted. || 'T'he
following day being a public fast, - he officiated as
dean in the abbey church of Westminster. .
When Dr. Williams, after his release, resumed
his seat in the house of Lords, he conducted him-
self with more temper than could be expected;
whereupon his Majesty sent for him, aud endea-
voured to gain him over, by promising to make
him full satisfaction for his past sufferings: in
order to which, liis Majesty commanded all the
judgments that were entered against him to be
discharged, and within,a twelvemonth translated
him to the archbishoprick of York, with leave to
* Heylin's Life of Laud, p.460. Warner’s: Eccles. Hist,
b. xv, p: 657, &c. Neal's Hist. of the Puritans, vol. ii, p. 354,
Walker's Sufferings o of the Clergy, parti, p.7; and part ii,
p. 408.
4
RELEASE OF PRYNNE. 193
hold his deanery of Westminster in commendam
for three years. |
Mr. Prynne, Mr. Burton and Dr. Bastwick,
being remanded from the several islands to which
they had been confined, upon their petition to the
house of commons, were met some miles out of
London by a great number of people on horseback,
with rosemary and bays in their hats, and escorted
into the city in a kind of a triumph. "Though
these persons were severely punished, and perhaps
in a great measure unjustly, yet the factious and
hostile disposition of their deliverers manifests
such a rancour as nothing could allay but the
total destruction of church and state. In a few
weeks after, the house of commons, in order to
shew thatthey werein earnest about overthrowing
the church, came to the following resolutions:
* That the several judgments against them were
illegal, unjust, and against the liberty of the sub-
ject: that their several fines be remitted: that
. they be restored to their several possessions: and
that for reparation of their losses, Mr. Burton
ought to have £6000, and Mr. Prynne and Dr.
Bastwick £5000. each, out of the estates of the
archbishop of Canterbury, the high commis-
sioners, and those lords, who have voted against
them in the star-chamber; but the confusion of
the times prevented the payment of the money.
Q .
194 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
About the same time, Dr. Alexander Leighton,
Dr. Osbaldeston, and others were set at liberty.
As the house of commons declared the impri-
sonment of these persons illegal, consequently
they made enquiry after their persecutors. In
the month of January, 1640--1, Dr. Cosins, pre-
bendary of Durham, afterwards bishop of Dur-
ham, was one of the first persons, who suffered
in the cause of the church of England in those
troublesome times: he was taken into custody
by order of the house, and was voted unfit to hold
any ecclesiastical promotion, on account of some
pretended innovations which he had introduced
into the cathedral of Durham. He, foreseeing the
impending storm, withdrew into France, where
he remained till the restoration of Charles II, by
whom he was made bishop of Durham.
Dr. Matthew Wren, late bishop of Norwich,
and now of Ely, having used much severity
against the puritan clergy in his diocese, the inha-
bitants of Ipswich drew up a petition against him,
_and presented it to the house, Dec. 22, 1640.*
Upon which a charge was exhibited against him,
consisting of twenty-five articles. It stated, that
* Nalson’s Collections, p.692. Neal’s Hist. of the Puritass,
vol. ii, p. 370. . See Brook’s Lives of the Puritans, vol. ii,
p. 410.
DR. WREN, BISHOP OF ELY. 195
during the time of his being the bishop of Norwich,
which was about two years, fifty ministers had
been excommunicated, suspended, and deprived,
for not reading the second service at the commu-
nion table, for not reading the book of sports, for
using conceived prayers before the afternoon
Sermon, &c: and that by his rigorous severities,
many of his Majesty's subjects, to the number of
three thousand, had removed themselves and
families into Holland, and set up their manufacto-
ries there, to the great injury of the trade of this
kingdom. The bill was carried to the house of
lords, and the bishop gave bond for his appear-
ance. Some time after, the commons voted him
unfit to hold any ecclesiastical preferment. Both
lords and commons petitioned the king to remove
him from his person and service; after which he
was imprisoned with the other protesting bishops.
When released, he retired to his house at Down-
ham in the isle of Ely, where he was apprehended
by a party of soldiers, and conveyed to the Tower,
where he continued till the end of the year 1659,
without being brought to his trial, or any charge
or accusation formed against him. He was the
first bishop that was deprived by the parliament:
however, he survived all his troubles and suffer-
ings, and was restored by Charles II. to his
bishoprick. He bore his troubles with much
02 -
196 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
patience and magnanimity, and died in the eighty-
first year of his age.*
Complaints were made against several other
bishops and clergymen, as Dr. Pierce, bishop of
Bath and Wells; Dr. Montague, bishop of Nor-
wich; Dr. Owen, bishop of Llandaff; and Dr.
Manwaring, bishop of St. David’s: but the house
was now too much occupied with other affairs,
to have time to prosecute them, and vote them
unfit for ecclesiastical promotions.
The clamour against the clergy was now become
so violent, that they could hardly officiate in the
established form, or walk the streets without
being insulted. 'The Liturgy was called a lifeless
form of worship, and a,quenching of the Holy
Spirit. Immense numbers of petitions were sent
up to “the committee of religion" from all parts
of the country against the clergy, complaining of
superstitious impositions, the immoral conduct of
the clergy, and neglect of their cures. Lord
Clarendon observes, that many of these petitions
were got up in very unfair ways, in those times of
iniquity and confusion: and Dr. Warner says,
that, “encouraged by the appearances of a favour-
rable disposition in the commons to redress the
grievances of religion, the petulant humour of
* Neal's Hist. of the Puritans, vol. ii, p. 370. Walker's
Sufferings of the Clergy, part ii, p. 21.
RIOTS IN CHURCHES. 197
every enthusiast was indulged in subscribing
petitions against the church; and the greatest
unfairness was made use of to swell the list."*
The spirit of the populace was now such, that
it was difficult to prevent their outrunning autho-
rity, and tearing down in a tumultuous manner
what they were told had been set up illegally.
At St. Saviours, Southwark, the mob pulled
down the rails about the communion table. At
Halsted, in Essex, they tore the surplice, and
abused the liturgy: and when the commons
were assembled in St. Margaret's, Westminster,
as the clergyman was commencing the commu-
nion service at the communion table, some
of the rabble at the lower end of the church
began to sing a. psalm, in which the congregation
joined, so that the minister was obliged to desist.
But in order to prevent any such disorders in
future, the lords and commons passed a severe
sentence on the rioters, and published the follow-
ing order, dated Jan. 16, 1640--1, appointing it to
be read in all the churches of London, Westmin-
ster, and Southwark—* That divine service shall
be performed as it is appointed by the acts of
parliament of this realm; and that all such as
* Hist. of the Rebellion, vol. i, p. 208. Warner's Eccles.
Hist, of England, vol. ii, p. 637. See also Walker's Sufferings
of the Clergy, parti, p.8.
198 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
disturb that wholesome order shall. be severely.
punished by law."* And it was also added,
*'That the parsons, vicars, and curates of the
several parishes shall forbear to introduce any
rites or ceremonies that may give offence, other-
wise than those which are established by the laws
of the land." |
About this time the house of commons arbitra-
rily settled puritanical preachers and lecturers in
most of the considerable churches, so that the
pulpits now sounded with abundance of faction.
and fanaticism. Commissioners were also ordered
to be sent into every county, to “deface, demo-
lish, and remove out of churches and chapels, all
images, altars, or tables turned altarwise, cruci-
fixes, pictures, and other monuments and relics of
idolatry.” In consequence of this commission,
the Cross in Cheapside, Charing Cross, was
taken down; and also the famous St. Paul’s
Cross was demolished.*
* Walkers Sufferings of the Clergy, parti, pp. 24, 26.
Nalson’s Collections, vol. ii, p. 271. Neal’s Hist. of the
Puritans, vol. ii, p. 372.
T St. Paul's Cross “ was a pulpit of wood, covered with lead in
the form of a cross, and mounted on several flights of stone
steps, and placed about the middle of St. Paul's churchyard, in
which more learned men appeared, and out of which more
sound and good divinity had been delivered, than perhaps any
one pulpit since the first preaching of the Gospel could ever
glory in; and particularly under that (now idolatrous) banner
ARBITRARY POWER OF THE COMMONS. 199
It is easy to perceive that the commons, who
were so forward to complain on all occasions of
the arbitrary power of the king, exceeded, in this
instance, their own authority, and placed arbitrary
power in the hands of those commissioners. In
order to maintain this arbitrary power, the house
of commons judged it requisite to encourage their
friends particularly to countenance the puritans,
to whose assistance and influence they were
already so much obliged, and thus to contrive to
overawe their enemies. To every one who im-
partially views the political factions of those
times, it is evident that many of the puritans,
though pious, good, and conscientious men, were
made tools to promote the designs of this parlia-
ment. Every meeting of the commons was now
productive of some vehement harangue against
the usurpation of the bishops, the high commis-
sion, the late convocation, and the new canons. .
" Sach invectives were received without any con-
troul. And no distinction at first appeared
between those who desired only to reform the
abuses which had crept into the church, and
those who wished totally to annihilate episcopal
jurisdiction.*
of the cross, more learning against popery and all real idolatry
had been shewn, than those new reformers were ever masters
of,"—Walker's Sufferings of the Clergy, parti, p. 24.
* Warner's Eccles. Hist, of England, vol. ii, pp. 536, 537.
200 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
It was manifest that the destruction of the
church was intended, since its ministers and
hturgy were so virulently attacked. The debates
in parliament concerning the liturgy and episco-
pacy, now engaged the attention of the whole
nation. A great number of seditious pamphlets
issued from the press against the church, written in
the most scurrilous and indecent language. Bishop
Hall, in his ** Defence of the Humble Remon-
strance against the frivolous and false Exceptions
of Smectymnuus,” says, ‘‘ Fain would you excuse
tbat which the world cries shame on: the multi-
tude of the late seditious pamphlets; whereat
you might well blush in silence, when an honour-
able person, in open parliament, could reckon up
no less than seven score that had passed the press
since the beginning of this session." * Bishop Hall,
lamenting the iniquitous attacks on the church,
made, on this occasion, the following earnest
appeal to the house of lords in behalf of the
church.
* My Lords:
I have long held my peace, and meant to have
done so still: butnow, like to Cresus's mute son,
I must break silence. I humbly beseech your
Lordships to give me leave, to take this too just
* Bisbop Hall's Works, vol, ix, p. 644.
SPEECH IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS. 201
occasion to move your Lordships to take into
your deep and serious consideration the woeful
and lamentable condition of the poor Church of
England, your dear Mother.
My Lords, this was not wont to be her stile.
We have, heretofore, talked of the famous and
flourishing Church of England: but now, your
Lordships must give me leave to say, that the
poor Church of England humbly prostrates her-
self, next after his Sacred Majesty, at your Lord-
ships’ feet; and .humbly craves your compassion
and present aid. -
My Lords, it is a foul and dangerous insolence,
this, which is now complamed of to you; but it
is but one of a hundred of those, which have been
of late done to this Church and Government.
. The Church of England, as your Lordships
cannot choose but know, hath been and is miser-
ably infested on both sides: with Papists, on
the one side; and Schismatics, on the other.
'The Psalmist hath, of old, distinguished the
enemies of it, into wild boars out of the wood,
and 4àitle foxes out of the burrows: the one
whereof goes about to root up the very founda-
tion of religion; the other to crop the branches,
and blossoms, and clusters thereof: both of them
conspire the utter ruin and devastation of it.
As for the former of them, I do perceive a
great dealfof good zeal, for the remedy and sup-
202 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
pression of them: and I do heartily congratulate
it; and bless God for it; and beséech him to
prosper it, in those hands, that shall undertake
and prosecute it.
But, for the other, give me leave to say, 1 do
not find many, that are sensible of the danger of
it; which yet, in my apprehension, is very great
and apparent. Alas! my Lords, I beseech you
to consider what it is: That there should be
in London and the Suburbs and Liberties, no
fewer than fourscore congregations of several
sectaries, as I have been too credibly informed ;
instructed by guides fit for them, Coblers, 'Tailors,
Feltmakers, and such like trash: which are all
taught to spit in the face of their Mother, the
Church of England; and to defy and revile her
government. From hence have issued those
dangerous assaults of our Church-Governors:
from hence, that inundation of base and scurrilous
libels and pamphlets, wherewith we have been of
late overborne; in which Papists and Prelates,
like oxen in a yoke, are still matched together.
O my Lords, I beseech you, that you will be
sensible of this great indignity. Do but look
upon these reverend persons. Do not your
Lordships see here, sitting upon these benches,
those, that have spent their time, their strength,
their bodies and lives, in preaching down, in
writing down Popery ? and which would be ready
SPEECH IN THE HOUSE OF LoRDs. 203
if occasion where offered, to sacrifice all their
old blood that remains to the maintenance of that
truth of God, which they have taught and writ-
ten? And shall we be thus despitefully ranged
with them, whom we do thus professedly oppose?
But, alas! this is but one of those many scan-
dalous aspersions and intolerable affronts, that
are daily cast upon us. Now whither should
we, in this case, have recourse for a needful and
seasonable redress? The arm of the Church is,
alas! now short and sinewless: it is the inter-
posing of your authority that must rescue us.
You are the eldest sons of your dear Mother, the
Church; and, therefore, most fit and most able
to vindicate her wrongs. You are mici Sponsa;
give me leave, therefore, in the bowels of Christ
humbly to beseech your Lordships, to be tenderly
sensible of these woeful and dangerous conditions
of the times. And, if the Government of the
Church of England be unlawful and unfit, aban-
don and disclaim it; but if otherwise, uphold and
maintain it. Otherwise, if these lawless outrages
be yet suffered to gather head, who knows where
they will end? My Lords, if these men may, with
impunity and freedom, thus bear down Ecclesi-
astical Authority, it is to be feared they will not
rest there; but will be ready to affront Civil
Powertoo. Your Lordships know, that the Jack
Straws, and Cades, and Wat Tylers of former
904 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
times, did not more cry down learning than
nobility: and those of your Lordships, that have
read the history of the Anabaptistical tumults at
Munster, will need no other item: let it be
enough to say, that many of these Sectaries are
of the same profession. Shortly, therefore, let
me humbly move your Lordships to take these
dangers and miseries of this poor Church deeply
to heart: and, upon this occasion, to give order
for the speedy redressing of these horrible inso-
lencies; and for the stopping of that deluge of
libellous invectives, wherewith we are thus impet-
uously overflown. Which, in all due submission,
I humbly present to your Lordships wise and
religious consideration." *
* Bishop Hall’s Works, vol. x, pp. 65, 66.
CHAPTER VI.
Upon the gathering of the present storm,
Bishop Hall came forward a second time as a
strenuous champion in defence of the church of
England. He published * An Humble Remon-
strance to the High Court of Parliament," in
which treatise he vindicated the antiquity of litur-
gies and episcopacy with admirable skill, meek-
ness, and simplicity ; yet with such strength of
argument, that five presbyterian divines * clubbed
their wits together to frame an answer." "These
dissenting ministers were Stephen Marshall,
Edmund Calamy, Thomas Young, Matthew New-
comen, and William Spurstów. Their perform-
ance bore the strange title of “ Smectymnuus, or
An Answer to an Humble Remonstrance, &c.”
This fictitious word is made up of the initial
letters of the names of the above authors. Bishop
Hall, in his reply entitled * A Defence of that
Remonstrance," alluding to his antagonists, mer-
rily says,** My single Remonstrance is encountered
with a-plural adversary, that talks in the style of
206 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
* We" and ** Us." Their names, persons, qualities,
numbers, I care not to know: but could they
say, ** my name ts Legion, for we are many ;" or,
were they as many legions as men; my cause,
yea God's, would bid me to meet them undis-
mayed, and to say with holy David, ** Though a
host should encamp against me, my heart shall
not fear." Ps. xxvii, 3. Bishop Hall proceeds
with much composure to point out the bulk of his
adversaries’ performance, their trifling cavils, and
their inveterate malice agamst episcopacy: and,
with his usual ability and learning, demonstrates
the antiquity of forms of prayers, and the Aposto-
lical institution of episcopacy. In a word, this
reply is a complete refutation of the arguments of
the bishop's adversaries.
It is said of the treatise of Smectymnuus that it
is “ certainly written with great fierceness of spirit
and much asperity in language, containing eighteen
sections, in the last of which the differences
between the prelatists and puritans are aggravated
with great bitterness."* Bishop Hall, at the end
of his * Defence of the Humble Remonstrance,”
speaks of the last section of Smectymnuus thus:
*« The rest that remains, is but mere declamation,
not worthy of any answer, but contempt and
silence,"
* Brook's Lives of the Puritans, vol. iii, p. 246.
ANSWER TO SMECTYMNUUS. 207
In this controversy, no one can say that Bishop
Hall: has used “ asperity of language,” or mani-
fested bitterness of spirit: on the contrary, he
has written with the simplicity of a primitive
christian bishop; with confidence of the goodness
of the cause; with brotherly respect to his
opponents: his language is energetic, yet tem-
perate, courteous, and chaste.
The bishop terminates this controversy by a
tract called * A Short Answer to the Tedious
Vindieation of Smectymnuus," in which he vindi-
cates, with great strength of argument, what he
had already advanced in defence of liturgies and
episcopacy: refutes his opponents' cavils and
subterfuges, and challenges them to produce any
settled national church in the whole christian
world that has been otherwise governed than by
bishops, in a meet and moderate parity, ever since
the time of Christ and his apostles, until this pre-
sent age." * :
It is proper here to observe, that, though
Bishop Hall proves that there always had been a
form of prayer used in the public worship of God,
both in (the Jewish and christian church; yet he
does not disapprove of the use of extemporary
prayer on certain occasions, but confesses that he
made use of both ways. “Far be it from me,"
* Bishop Hall's Works, vol. ix, pp. 691, 768.
208 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
says he, “to dishearten any good christian from
: the use of conceived prayer, in his private devo-
tions, and upon occasion also in public. I would
hate to be guilty of pouring so much water upon
the Spirit; to which I shall gladly add oil rather.
No;.let the full soul freely pour out itself in
gracious expressions of its holy thoughts, into the
bosom of the Almighty. Let both the sudden
flashes of our quick ejaculations, and the constant
flames of our more fixed conceptions, mount up
' from the altar of a zealous heart unto the throne
of grace: and if there be some stops or solecisms
in the fervent utterance of our private wants, these
are so far from being offensive, that they are the
most pleasing music to the ears of that God unto
whom our prayers come. Let them be broken off
with sobs, and sighs, and incongruities of our
delivery, our good God 1s no otherwise affected
to this imperfect elocution, than an indulgent
parent is to the clipped and broken language of
his dear child, which is more delightful to him
than any other's smooth oratory. This is not to
be opposed in another, by any man, that hath
found the true operation of this grace in himself.”*
* What have I professed," says he again, con-
cerning conceived prayer, ** but that which I ever
allowed, ever practised, both in private and
* Bishop Hall's Works, vol. ix, p. 629, &c.
ON EXTEMPORE PRAYER. 209
public? God is a free Spirit, and so should ours
be, in pouring out our voluntary devotions upon all
occasions. Nothing hinders, but that this liberty
and a public liturgy should be good friends,
and may go hand in hand together. And whoso-
ever would forcibly sever them, let them bear
their own blame.” And again, in his ‘ Answer
to Smectymnuus' Vindication,” he says, “ you tell
me of thousands, who desire to worship God with
devout hearts, that cannot be easily persuaded
that these set forms, though never so free from
just exceptions, will prove so great a help to their
devotion: I tell you of many more thousands than
they, and no less devoutly affected, that bless
God to have found this happy and comfortable
effect in the fore-set prayers of the church. |
Neither doth this plead at all against the use of
present conception, whether in praying or preach-
ing; or derogate any thing from that reverent and
pious esteem of conceived prayer, which I have
formerly professed. Surely I do from my soul
honour both: I gladly make use of both; and
praise God for them, as the gracious exercises of
christian piety, and the effectual furtherances of
salvation, There is place enough for them both:
they need not justle each other.” *
* Bishop Hall’s Works, vol. ix, pp. 651, 760.
While this controversy was debating at home, letters were
P |
210 ‘LIFE OF BISHOP ‘HALL.
‘Perhaps the controversy between Bishop ‘Hall
and these dissenting divines might have :been
compromised, if there:had not been a determined
resolution in several persons then in power to
demolish the established church: in which resolu-
tion they were greatly assisted by many of those
called puritans, who were of turbulent :spirits,
and inveterate against.church and state. And at
the same time it must be allowed, that:if the rest
of the bishops and clergy had been of the same
Spirit and temper as ‘Bishop Hall, probably
things would ‘not have been carried .to such
extremes. -But divine providence so ordered it,
sent from both sides to obtain the judgment of foreign divines ;
but most of them gave no reply. ‘Dr. Plume, in ‘the life of
‘Bishop Hacket,. writes, that Blondel, Vossius, Horabeck, and
Salmasius, were sent to by his Majesty’s friends in vain.
“Blondel published a treatise. on the ‘dissenters’ vide; ‘but
Deodote of Geneva, Amyraldus:ef. France, wished an accom-
modation, and were for episcopal government. ‘The papists
triumphed, and their expectations were saised'on-ateount of
these. differences, as appears.by a letter of T. White, a papist,
to the Lord Viscount Gage, of Dublin, Feb. 12, 1639: ‘‘ We
are in-a fair-way to assuage heresy and her episcopacy ; for
Exeter's book has done more for the catholics than they. could
have done for themselves, he having written that episcopacy in
office and jurisdiction is absolutely jure diuino, (which was the
old quarrel between our bishops. and King Henry VIII, during
his heresy ;) which book does not.a little trouble ‘our adver-
saries, who declare this‘tenet of -xeler’s.to;be centrary to the
laws of this land. Allis like to prosper here, so I hope with
you there.” -These-were the wighes, and.the sentiment of the
papists then respecting Bishop Hall’s writings on episcopacy.
—See “ Foxes: and ‘Firebrands,” part ii, p. 81; and Neal's
Hist. of the Puritans, vol. ii, p. 389. .
PETITIONS. | 211
that the arbitrary power then in church and state
should .be pynished, and that the, unrestrained
outrages of civil apd religious faction should be: at
the same time exemplified, that all future ages
might take warning againist fostering a. seditious, -
factious, and party spirit.
As this parliament increased jn power, the
puritan divines took advantage of it, and stiffened
‘in their demands, till methods of accommodation
were ,utterly impracticable.* And, as the utter
Subversion of the church was contemplated, the
industry of the several parties to get signatures to
petitions, is almost incredible: and, as it was then
the fashion to judge of the sense of the nation this
way, messengers were sent all over England to
ipromote petitions and,procure signatures. Lord
Clarendon, Dr. Nalson, and others, complain of
great disingenuity.on the side of those who were
Al-affected to the church. The noble historian
says, “That the paper which contained the
:minister's petition was filled with a very few
hands, but that many other sheets were annexed
for the reception of numbers, that gave credit to
. the undertaking : hut that when. their. names were
subscribed, the petition itself was cut off, and a
new one of a very different nature annexed to the
* Neal’s Hist. of the Puritans, vol. ii, p.388.
P 2
212 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
long list of names: and when some of the minis-
ters complained to the Rev. Mr. Marshall, with
whom the petition was lodged, that they never
saw the petition to which their hands were
annexed, but had signed another against the oath
enjomed in the new canons. When they found
their names set to a petition for an alteration in the
government of the church, they remonstrated for
this disingenuity. Mr. Marshall, it is said, replied,
that it was thought fit by those who understood
business better than they, that the latter petition
should rather be preferred than the former."*
It must be allowed that very unfair means were
employed to get signatures to petitions at this
time: and many subscribed their names who
were not at all capable of judging the merits of
the cause. There were two kinds of petitions
against the church. Some petitioned the destruc-
tion of the whole fabric: a petition, therefore,
was got up, and subscribed by above fifteen
thousand inhabitants of London; this complained
of the government of the church by archbishops,
bishops, deans, &c. and prayed that the said
government, with all its dependencies, oot and
Branch, might be abolished. This extraordinary
* Clarendon, vol. i, p. 204. — Walker's Sufferings of the
Clergy, parti, p.8. Neal's Hist. of the Puritans, vol. ii,
Pp. 390.
'* ROOT AND BRANCH " PETITION. 213
bill was therefore cantingly termed the Root and
Branch petition. There were also others who
only aimed at the reformatiom of some things in
the government of the church: a petition, there- .
fore, called the ministers! petition, was drawn up,
and signed by seven hundred beneficed clergy-
men; this was followed by others, signed by a
vast number of hands, from Kent, Gloucester-
shire, Lancashire, Nottinghamshire, and other —
counties, Though the enemies of episcopacy
were extremely busy, yet there were great efforts
made in favor of the constitution; for, in 1641
and the following year, there were no less than
nineteen petitions presented to the king, and the
house of lords, from the two universities, from
Cheshire, Nottinghamshire, Somersetshire, Rut-
landshire, Staffordshire, Kent, North Wales, Lan-
cashire, Herefordshire, Huntingdonshire, Corn-
wall, Oxfordshire, &c. "There was also a petition
from the diocese of Exeter, signed by about eight
thousand names; which, of course, was promoted
by Bishop Hall and his clergy. The petitions in
favor of the church were subscribed by above
one hundred thousand hands! six thousand were
nobility, gentry, and dignified clergy.*
These petitions in favor of the church, signed
* Walker's Sufferings of the Clergy, parti, p. 10.
914 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
by so vast a Humber, carried no weight with them ;
they were not at all countenanced, but were, in
fact, rejected. The house was displeased’ with
those who made them, discouraged any more
attempts of the kind, and was presumptuous
ehough to complain to, and remonstrate with the
king for his receiving them. *
It would be too tedious to give an account of
all the petitions against episcopacy : let it suffice,
however, to add, that even the apprentices of
Lendon made a petition to the king, desiring
ainong other things, “ that prelacy might bé rooted
up." The very porters also petitioned against
episcopacy as a burihen too heavy for their
shoulders. T
The root and branch petition, mentioned above,
was presented to the committee of religion, Det.
11, 1640, by Alderman Pennington, in the namé
of his Majesty’s subjects in and about the city
of London, and adjacent counties. It incloséd à
schedule of eight and twenty grievances: the
chief of which were, the suspension and depriva-
tion of ministers by the bishops, for not conforining
to the rites and ceremonies of the church—thé
discouragement of preaching—the bishops’ claim
of divine right—the Oath ez offició—and the
* Walker's Sufferings of the Clergy, part ii, p. 10.
1 Fuller's Church Hist. cent. 17, p. 185.
SPEECH OF LORD DIGBY. 215.
exorbitant power of. the high commission court.
In order to obtain; redress of these grievances, the
petitioners were so very modest as only to desire
that episcopacy with all its dependances, root and
branch, might be abolished.
At this time, however, the house was not of:
that malignant spirit against the church, which it:
afterwards. manifested, for the utmost which
could be. obtained, after a long debate upon the
petition, was, that it should not be rejected —that
it should remain in the hands of the clerk of the.
house, and (hat no copy of it should. be given.”*
The following extracts from the speeches of
Lords Digby and Falkland on this occasion, shew
us the malignity and presumption of this petition. -
Lord Digby. says, ^I know not whether it be
more preposterous to infer the extirpation of
bishops fromisuch weak arguments, or to attri:
bute, as they do, to church government all the
civil: grievances; not a patené, not a monopoly,
not the: price of a commodity raised, but these
men make the bishops the cause of it. For the
bold part of this petition, Sir, what can be of
greater presumption than for the petitioners no£
only to. prescribe to the parliament what and how
it shall do, but for a multitude to teach a parlia-
* Walker's Sufferings of the ‘Clergy, part i, p.8. Warner's
Eoeles. Hist, of England, vol. ii, p. 537.
216 — LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
ment what is, and what is not, the government
‘according to God's word. Besides, what is the
petition against? Is it not against the government
of the church of England established by acts of
parliament, against the liturgy, and against the
several forms of divine service, ratified by the
same authority? Episcopacy is a function,
deduced through all ages of Christ’s church from
the apostles’ times, and continued the most vene-
rable and sacred order ecclesiastical; a function
dignified by the learning and piety of many fathers
of the church, glorified by so many martyrdoms
in the primitive times, and some since our own
blessed reformation; a government admired, I
speak it knowingly, by the learnedest of the
reformed churches abroad ; and lastly, a govern-
ment under which, till these late years, this
church hath so flourished and fructified." Lord
Falkland, who, according to Clarendon's opinion,
was the most extraordinary man of his age, after
speaking with severity against some of the bishops,
adds, * And now, even in this great defect of the
order, there have been some that have been
neither proud nor ambitious; some that have
been learned opposers of popery, and zealous
suppressors of Arminianism; between whom and
their inferior clergy, there have been no distinc-
tions in frequent preaching; whose lives are
untouched, not only by guilt, but by malice,
LORD FALKLAND'S SPEECH. 217
scarce to be equalled by those of any condition,
or excelled by those in any calendar.”* This
part of Lord Falkland's speech is truly descrip-
tive of Bishop Hall's character, and in every point
agrees with what the bishop says of himself in his
** Letter sent from the Tower to a private friend :”
it is highly probable that Lord Falkland had
Bishop Hall particularly in view. Both Lord
Digby and Lord Falkland were at this time very
zealous for redress of grievances in the church;
Bishop Hall also, and some others of the bishops,
were disposed to remove every offensive innova-
tion out of the church, and to comply with every
requisite reform; but unhappily on the one hand
nothing would satisfy but the demolition of the
church root and branch, and on the other, many
* Warner’s Eccles. Hist. of Eng. vol. ii, p. 688. During
this debate the following repartees passed between Mr. Grim-
stone and Mr. Seldon:-—Mr. G. argued “ that bishops are
jure divino is a question; that archbishops are not jure divino
is out of question; now that bishops which are questioned
whether jure divino, or archbishops which out of question are
not jure divino, should suspend ministers which are jure divino,
I leave to you to be! considered." Mr. Seldon replied, ** that
the convocation is jure divino is a question; that parliaments
are hot Jure divino is out of the question; that religion is jure
divino is no question; now that the convocation which is
questionable whether jure divino, and parliaments which out of
the question are not jure divino, should meddle with religion
which questionless is jure divino, I leave to your consideration."
Seldon's argument is considered by Bishop Warburton, as a
thorough confutation of Grimstone's. Vide Neal, vol. ii, p. 405.
218 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
of the bishops were not at all disposed. to. comply.
with any reform.
In. the petition in favour of the church, signed.
bya great number of the nobility, gentry, and
dignified: clergy, in opposition to the root and.
branch petition, it. was stated, “That episcopacy
i$ as ancient. as christianity itself in. this kingdom
——that bishops were the chief: instruments in the
reformation of the church against popery, and
afterwards the most eminent martyrs for the pro-.
testant. religion, and. since, the best and ablest
champions for the defence of it.. ‘That since the
reformation the times have been very peaceable,
lappy, and. gloneus, notwithstanding the episce- -
pal: goverament im the church,. and therefore that
this: government can be no: cause of oar unkappi-
ness. That not only many learned, but divers
other godly persons, would be much scandalized
and troubled in conscience, if the government of
episcopacy, conceived:by them to be an apostolical
Institution, were altered; and since there is so.
much care taken, that no man should be offended:
in the least ceremony, we hope there will be.
some, that such men’s consciences may not be
pressed upon in a matter of an. higher nature
and consequence, especially considering that this
government by episcopacy is not only lawful and:
convenient for edification, but likewise suitable
to, and agreeable with the civil policy and .govern-
PETITIONS FOR EPISCOPACY. 219
ment of this state. That this government is
lawful, it appears by the immediate, universal,
and constant practice of all the christian world,
grounded upon scripture, from the apostles’ time,
to this last age, for above fifteen hundred years
together, it being utterly incredible, if not impos-
sible, that the whole church, for so long a time,
should not discover, by God's word, this govern-
ment to be unlawful, if it had been so; to which
may be added, that the most learned protestants,
even in those very churches which now are. not
governed by bishops, do not only hold the
government by episcopaty to be lawful, but wish
that they themselves might enjoy it. That the
government by episcopacy is not only lawful but
convenient for edification, and as mnch or more
conducing to piety and’ devotion than any other,
because no modest man denies that tlie primitive
times wére most famous for piety, constancy and
perseverance in the faith, motwithstanding more
frequent, and more cruel pérsecutions than ever .
have been since, and yet it is confessed that the
church im those times was governed by bishops.
That the government of the church by épiscopaty
is most suitable to the form and frame of the civil
government here in this kingdom, it appears by
the happy and flourishing unión of them both for
so long a time together; whereas no man can give
us an assurance how any church government
220 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
besides this (whereof we have had so long expe-
rience) will suit and agree with the civil policy of
the state.” |
The humble request of the petitioners was,
* that they may still enjoy that government which
most probably holds its institution from the apos-
tles, and most certainly its plantation with our
christian faith itself in this kingdom, where it hath
ever since flourished and continued for many ages |
without any interruption or alteration; whereby
it plainly appears, that as.it is the most excellent
government in itself, so it is the most suitable,
most agreeable, and every way most proportion-
able to the civil constitution and temper ef this
state." ;
The petition called the ministers’ petition was
presented to the house Jan.23, 1640--1, by ten
or twelve clergymen: it was pretended to be
signed by about seven hundred ministers of
London and of the adjacent counties. It prayed
for a reformation of certain grievances in the
establishment, and was referred to the committee
of religion. The.three following articles were -
reported as proper to the consideration of the
house:—** 1, The secular employments. of the
clergy. 2. The sole power of the bishops in
ecclesiastical affairs, and particularly in ordina-
tions and church censures. 3. The large reve-
nues of deans and chapters, with the incon-
ATTACKS ON THE CHURCH. 291
veniences that attend the application of them." *.
The house having debated upon the first article,
agreed ‘ That the legislative and judicial power
of bishops in the house of peers, is a great
hinderance to the dischárge of their. spiritual
function, prejudicial to the commonwealth, and
fit to be taken away: that for bishops or any other
clergyman to be in the commission of the peace,
or to have any judicial power in the star-chamber,
or in any civil court, is a great hinderance to the
discharge of their spiritual function, and preju-
dicial to the commonwealth, and fit to be taken
away; and that a bill be brought in to that
purpose.
According to these resolutions, a bill was
brought into the house of commons, to exclude
all ecclesiastics from civil employments, and the
bishops in particular from a right of sitting in
the house of lords. The noble historian informs
us, that this bill ** was contrived with great
deliberation and preparation, to dispose men to
consent to it,” and that the reception of it was -
* the first design that was entertained against
the church." 'The leaders among the puritan-
nical party took great pains to. dispose the minds
* Warner's Eccles. Hist. of Eng. vol.ii,. p. 538. Walker's
Sufferings of the Clergy, parti, p. 15. — Neal's Hist, of the
Puritans, vol. ii, p. 395. B
292 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL,
|. -0f members well affected ,to the church, £o con-
cur with-them in-this bill. Indeed many persons
.of integrity and judgment then believed. that the
‘passing this bill was the only expedient to pse-
serve .the church. Mr. Hampden assured Lord
Falkland, “,that jf .this ,bill might pass, there
would be nothing .more attempted to the preju-
dice of :the chnrch, which he thought, as the
world then went, would be no jill . composition."
The same insidious artifice was .probably ,em-
ployed with other members; to which it was
added, ** how advantageous it would be for the
king to have at.his pleasure so great a number
of voices among the Lords, and consequently
how improbable it would .be to succeed in the
reformation of abuses, .while the bishops had
‘votes in the house of peers.” As the rigid
‘puritans dared not as yet openly to discaver
(their destructive vows against the church, and
seemed to have no ,other view in .the expulsign
^of the bishops: than to facilitate the redregs of
grievances, so there. were churchmen who . were
of opinion it would do no harm, if,ecelesiagtical
persons had fewer avocations from their ;profes-
‘sion, and that the passing ,of this .bill would be -
an expedient to prevent any further attempts
against the church.
The king, being informed. of these proceedings,
declared in a speech his readiness to concur
BILL AGAINST ‘THE BIGHOPS. 1295
with the :parliament in a redress of grievances
4n-church and state; but, though he was for:a
reform, he would not consent to a change .of
government. He was not unwilling that the
exorbitant power and encroachments :of the
bishops, if there had been any such, should be
-redressed .like:.all other abuses; but he should
not. consent that their voices-in parliament should
be taken away, which they had .enjoyed exer
since the conquest. ;However, the roygl speech
being looked upon as unparliamentary, . did :the
-cause no serviee ; it. was. premature, as the house
as:yet was.nat disposed to bring in a,bill for the
subversion.of:the. church. |
(ht seemed also, : that,:in.case this; bill should be
ejected, the puritanical party would. be exeeed-
ingly.displeased, who, as being: supported by the
Bets, were. now very powerful: -it-was indeed ‘by
their means;in.a great: measure \thet the-parlia-
ment was enabled :to procegd (im .the work of
redressing .ghiavances. Wherefore :&he bill .fer
‘suppressing the. temporal jurisdiction .of . the
bishops and clergy, and excludimg :the former
from the house óf lords, passed the commons by
a great majority: but when it was sent up to the
- heuse of lords, May 1, 1641, it met.with vigorous |
opposition.* Many of the greatest men in that
* Fuller says, (Ch. Hist. b. ix, p. 185.) that Lord Kimbolton
994 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
house grew weary of the malignant presumption of
the commons, and observed that they had “worse
designs than they owned :” so those peers, who
had hitherto concurred with them, deserted them
on this occasion, and severely inveighed against
their projects. The hill, therefore, after a second
reading, was thrown out, without so much as
being committed, even by a majority of temporal
lords, without the votes of the bishops being
reckoned. If the lords temporal were so far
disposed as to comply to exclude the bishops
and clergy from all secular offices and employ-
ments in the state, they would not at all comply
to deprive them of their votes in parliament.
"The principal speakers in the house of lords
in behalf of the bishops, were Lord Viscount
Newark, afterwards the Earl of Kingston, the
Marquis of Hereford, the Earls of Southampton,
Bath and Bristol, Dr. Williams bishop of Lincoln,
afterwards archbishop of York, and Bishop Hall,
who on this occasion, made the following excel-
lent speech concerning the power of bishops in
secular things:
would have persuaded the bishops to resign their votes, adding,
that then the temporal lords would be obliged in honor to
preserve their jurisdiction and revenues. But they would
hearken to no such thing, resolving to keep possession of their
seats till a superior force should dispossess them.
SPEECH IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS. 995
* My Lords:
This is the strangest bill, that ever I beard, since
I was admitted to sit under this roof: for it
strikes at the very fabric and composition of this
house; at the style of all laws: and, therefore,
were it not that it comes from such a recommen-
dation, it would not, I suppose, undergo any long
consideration; but, coming to us from such
hands, it cannot but be worthy of your best
. thoughts.
And, truly, for the main scope of the bill, I
shall yield it most willingly, that ecclesiastical
and sacred persons should not ordinarily be taken
up with secular affairs. The minister is called
Vir Dei, “aman of God:” he may not be Vir
Seculi. He may lend himself to them, upon
occasion: he may not give himself over purposely
to them. Shortly, he may not so attend worldly
things, as that he do neglect divine things. This
we gladly yield. Matters of justice, therefore, are
not proper, as in an ordinary trade, for our func-
tion; and, by my consent, shall be, as in a gen-
erality, waved and deserted: which, for my part,
I never have meddled with, but in a charitable
way; with no profit, but some charge to myself,
whereof I shall be glad to be eased. T'ractent
fabrilia fabri ; as the old word is.
But, if any man shall hence think to infer, that
some spiritual person may not occasionally be in a
Q
226. LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
special service of his king or country; aud, when
he is so required by his prince, give his advice in
the urgent affairs of the kingdom, which I sup-
pose is the main point driven at; it is such an
inconsequence, as I dare boldly say cannot be
made good, either by divinity or reason; by the
laws either of God or man: whereas the contrary
may be proved and enforced by both.
As for the grounds of this bill, that the minis-
ter's duty is so great, that it is able to take up the
whole man, and the Apostle saith, tis waves, Who
is sufficient for these things? and that, he, who
warfares, to God, should not entangle himself with.
this world; it is a sufficient and just conviction
of those,. who would divide themselves betwixt
God and the world, and bestow any main part of
their time upon secular affairs: but it hath no
operation at all upon this tenet, which we have in.
hand; that a man, dedicate to God, may not so.
much as, when he is required, cast a glance of his.
eye, or some minutes of time, or some motions of
his tongue, upon the public business of his king.
and country. Those, that expect this from us,
may as well, and upon the same reason, hold that
a minister must have no family at all; or, if he
have one, must not care for it: yea, that he must
have no body to tend; but be all spirit. 0v
My lords, we are men of the same composition
with others ; and our breeding hath been accor-
SPEECH’ IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS. 227.
ditigly. We cannot have lived in the world, but
we have seen it, ‘and observed it too; ; did. ‘our
long experience and:'conversation,: both: in: mem
and in‘books, cannot but have put something into
us forthe good of others: and ‘now, having a
double capacity, quà Cives, quà Ecclesiastici; as
members of the commonwealth, as ministers and
governors ‘of the church; we ate ready: to do.
our best service in both. : One of. thém'is no: way
incompatible with the other: yea, the subjects of
them both are so united with the: chureh and
commonwealth, that they cannot. be severed: yea
so, as that, not the one isin the other, but the one
is the other, is both: so as the sérvices, which we
do, upon these occasions, to the commonwealth,
are inseparable from our good offices to the
church: so as, upon this grotnd, there is no
reason of our exclusion. |
If ye say that our sitting in parliament takes up
much time, which we might have employed in our
studies or pulpits; consider, I beseech you, that,
while you have a parliament, we must have a
convocation; and that our ‘attendance upon that
will call ‘for the same expence of time, which' we
afford tó this' service: so as, herein, we have
neither ‘got nor lost.
But, I fear it is not, on some hands, the tender
regard of the full scope to our calling, that isso
much here stood upon; as the conceit of too
Q2
228 —— LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
much honour, that is done us, in taking up the
room of peers, and voting in this high court: for,
surely, those that are averse from our votes, yet
could be content we should have place upon the
woolsacks; and could allow us.ears, but not
tongues. . |
If this be the matter, I beseech your lordships
to.consider, that this honour is not done to us,
but our profession; which, whatever we be in
our several persons, cannot easily be capable of
too much respect from your lordships. Non tibi,
sed Isidi; as he said of old.
Neither is this any new grace, that is put upon
our calling; which if it were now to begin might
perhaps be justly grudged to our unworthiness.
but it is an ancient right and inheritance, inherent
in our station: no less ancient than these walls,
wherein we sit: yea, more: before ever there
were parliaments, in the Magna Concilia of the
kingdom we had our places. And as for my pre-
decessors, ever since the conqueror’s time, I can
shew your Lordships a just catalogue of them,
that have sat before me here: and, truly, though
I have just cause to be mean in mine own eyes,
yet why or wherein there should be more
unworthiness in me than the rest, that I should be
stripped of that privilege which they so, long
enjoyed, though there were no law to hold me
here, I cannot see or confess.
SPEECH IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS. 229
What respects of honour have been put upon
the prime clergy of old, both by Pagans, and
Jews, and Christians, and what are still both
within Christendom and without, I shall not need
to urge: it is enough to say, this of ours is not
merely arbitrary ; but stands so firmly established
by law and custom, that I hope it neither will nor
can be removed, except you will shake those
foundations, which I believe you desire to hold
firm and inviolable.
Shortly, then, my lords, the church craves no
new honour from you; and justly hopes you will
not be guilty of pulling down the old. As you
are the eldest sons, and, next under his majesty,
the honourable patrons of the church: so she
expects and beseeches you to receive her into
your tenderest care; so to order her affairs, that
ye leave her to posterity in no worse case ‘than
you found her. |
It is a true word of Damasus, Uti vilescit
nomen Episcopi, omnis statua perturbatur Eccle-
sig.. If this be suffered, the misery will be the
church's: the dishonour and blur of the act in
future ages will be yours.
To shut up, therefore, let us be taken off from
all ordinary trade of secular employments ; and,
if you please, abridge us of intermeddling with
matters of common justice: but leave us pos-
sessed of those places and privileges in parliament,
230 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
which our predecessors have so long and peace-
ably enjoyed.” *
. The rejection of this bill, was the first check. the
commons met with in this parliament: and they
were not a little disconcerted at it. The reso-
lute conduct. of the bishops at this time in defend-
ing their rights .and privileges, so inflamed the
enemies of the church, that they came to: a
conclusion that there was no hope of obtaining
their end as long as a root and branch of episco-
pacy remained. . Some of their leading members
therefore brought in a bill for ** the utter extirpa-
tion of all bishops, deans, chapters, archdeacons,
prebendaries, chaunters, with all chancellors,
officials, and officers.belonging to them; and for
the disposing of their lands, manors, &c. as the
parliament should appoint."[ This extraordinary
bill was drawn up by Mr. St. John, and was -
delivered to the speaker by Sir Edward Dering
from the.gallery, with a.short speech, in which
he quoted two verses from Ovid, the.application
of which, it is seid, was his.greatest motive:
** Cuncta prius tentanda : sed immedicabile vulnus
. Ense recidendum, ne pars sincera trahatur."
-. Sir Edward:observed, that the moderation: and.
* Bishop Hall's Works, vol. x, pp. 70—72.
. fi Nalson's Collections, . vol. ii, pp..248-300,
^ BILL FOR DESTROYING EPISCOPACY. 231
candóur 'of the house were great in applying so
gentle a remedy by the late bill; as pruning and
taking óff'a few unnecéssary branches from the
bishops was likely to make tlie tree prosper the
better: but since this soft' method proved inef-
fectual by reason of their (the bishops’) incorrigi-
ble obstinacy, it was now necessary to put the
* axe to the root of the tree.” “TI never was
for ruin," said he, **as long as there was any
hopes of reforming; and I now profess that if
these hopes revive and prosper, I will divide my
sense upon this bill, and yield my shoulders to
to underprop the primitive, lawful, and just
episcopacy."
There was a great opposition to the reading of
this bill, because it was not introduced in a par-
hnamentary way, viz. without first asking’ leave ;
and because its tendency was to overthrow and
disannul so many acts, and to change the consti-
tution in church and state. But, as there were
many very desirous of hearing it merely out of
curiosity, and others from worse motives, it was
read once, and then adjourned for nearly two
months.
A little before the king went into Scotland in
the tegmming of Aug. 1641, it was carried by a
majority of thirty-one voices to read it a second
time, and deliver it to a committee of the whole
house, of which Mr. Hyde, afterwards Lord
232 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
Clarendon, was chairman, who so dexterously
managed the matter, that in about twenty days .
the bill was dropt, and was not resumed till the
civil war commenced.*
When it was debated in the house of commons
to abolish deans and chapters, and to apply their
revenues to better purposes, the cathedral clergy
exerted themselves to the utmost to ward off the
impending danger: they drew up a petition to
both houses of parliament; and for this end, one
divine was deputed from each cathedral to solicit
their friends on behalf of their respective founda-
tions. They intended to retain council to plead
for them, but being informed that the parliament
‘would not allow them that benefit, but that they
must appear and plead their own cause. Upon
this, Dr. John Hacket, prebendary of St. Paul’s
and archdeacon of Bedford, was selected as their
advocate, who, being admitted to the bar of the
house, May 12, 1641, “Spoke with so much
strength of reason and argument, with so much
learning and courage, that it was not without its
effect on the house, and seemed to put the busi-
ness to a stand for the present. It was then
thought by some, that had the question been then
* Walker's Sufferings of the Clergy, parti, p. 11. Warner's
Eccles. Hist. of Eng. vol.ii, p.540. ^ Neal's Hist. of the
Puritans, vol. ii, p. 426. — Harris's Life of Charles I. pp. 879—
381. Ed. 1814.
VOTE OF THE COMMONS, 233
put, it would have been carried in favour of the
cathedrals by a great majority.* Petitions were
also presented by the two universities; “ but,”
says Heylin, “ neither of them could prevail so
far as take off the edge of the axe, which had
been thus laid at the root.of the tree, though it
did blunt it at the present. For they, who
managed the design, finding that the cathedral
churches were too strongly cemented to be demo-
lished in an instant, considered that the farthest
way about, did many times prove the nearest way
to the journey's end."t A bill was therefore pre-
pared, by which it was to be enacted that the
bishops should have no votes in parliament, &c. of
which we shall have occasion to speak more at
large hereafter. |
_ After a long debate upon the bill for abolishing
deans and chapters, the commons passed the fol-
lowing resolutions or votes, which did not pass
into a law, as the house of lords would not con-
cur in an act so detrimental to the interest of the
church :—**'That all deans and chapters, arch-
deacons, prebendaries, chanters, canons, and
* See Dr. Hacket's incomparable speech in his Life by Dr.
Plume, prefixed to his Sermons in fol. and in Nalson's Collec-
tion, vol.ii, p. 240. See also Fuller's Church Hist. cent. 17,
b. xi, pp. 176, 177. Walker's Sufferings of the Clergy, part i,
p. 9. Heylin’s Life of Laud, p. 475.
+ Heylio’s Life of Laud, p. 476.
234 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
their officers, shall be utterly abolished out of the
church, and the lands taken from them, put in the
hands of trustees, in order to support a fit number
of ministers. for the service of the church, and the
reparation of the cathedrals."
— t: As long as the bishops were in the house of
lords, they stood like a strong bulwark or wall
against every attempt of the commons to subvert
the church; but when they were forced out of
the house, the: commons carried all before them,
and accomplished -all their iniquitous desea
against the church. E
In the month of March, 1640--1, the lords
ordered. thatiaicommittee of ten earls,ten ‘bishops,
and. ten barons should be nominated to settle the
affairs of the church: this was denominated the
Committee of : Accommodation. At their first
nieeting they appointed a sub-committee of bishops
and divinés of. different persuasions, to consider
such innovations in religion as were proper to be
taken away. Dr. Williams, bishop of Lincoln, was
chalrman:ta both, and was ordered to summon
the committee, . which. he :did. by. the following
circular : —
* [| am commanded by the lords of the com-
mittee for innovation in matters of 1eligion, to let
you know, that their said lordships haye assigned
and appointed you to attend them, as assistants
in that committee; and to let you know in
COMMITTEE OF ACCOMMODATION. 935
general, that their lordships intend to examine all
innovations ip doctrine and discipline introduced
into the ‘church, without law, since the reforma-
tion ; and (if their lordships shall find it behove«
ful for the good of the church end state) to
examine after that, the degrees and perfection of
the reformation itself, which I am directed to
intimate to you, that you may prepare your
thoughts, studies, and meditations accordingly,
expecting their lordships' pleasure for the parti-
cular points as they shall arise.'
Dated March 12, 1640-1.*
The names of those bishops and divines, who
attended, were these—
Dr. Williams, bishop of Lincoln. Dr. Holdeworth.-
Dr. Usher, archbishop of Armagh. Dr, Hackett.
Dr. Hall, bishop of Exeter. ^ — Dr. Twisse.
Dr. Morton, bishop of Durham. Dr. Burgess.
Dr. Samuel Ward. - Mr. White.
Dr. John Prideaux. " Mr. Marshall.
Dr, Sanderson. . Mr.Calany. :
Dr. Featley. Mr. Hii.
Dr. Brownrigge.
. They .consulted together. in the Jerusalem
Chamber at Westminster, and were entertained
all the while at the dean's table. The. result of
* The date in Heylin’s Life of Laud, p. 472, is March 21,
aad Dr. Walker; in his Sufferings of the Clergy, part i, p. 29,
has March 15. See his authorities in the margin,
236 .LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
their conference was drawn up for the. debate of
the committee, in a number of propositions and
queries ; but before they could bring their consul-
tations to any issue,. the meeting was dispersed
about the middle of May by the bringing in of the
bill for abolishing deans and chapters. This
caused such a division in this committee, even in
their persons and affections, that they never after
met together.*
Fuller, speaking of the. prelates and divines
which formed the committee of accommodation,
says, ‘that the moderation and mutual compli-
ance of these divines might have saved the body
of episcopacy, and. prevented the civil war; but
the court bishops expected no good from them,
suspecting the doctrinal puritans (as they nick-
named those bishops and episcopal divines)
joined with the disciplinary puritans, would
betray the church between them. Some hot
spirits would abate nothing of episcopal power or
profit, but maintained, that the yielding any thing
was granting the day to the opposite party.”
There may be-much.truth in the above remarks:
yet, though the bishops and divines of this com-
mittee were persons of great moderation and
. *.Heyliu's Life of Laud, p.475. Walker's Sufferings of the
Clergy, parti, p.29. Neals Hist. of the Puritans, vol. ii,
p.492. .
COMMITTEE OF ACCOMMODATION. 237
piety, and perhaps their scheme of accommoda-:
tion would have done much good, there were not
only “hot spirits” in favor of episcopacy, who
would “abate nothing of episcopal power or
profit,” but others of the opposite party, who
would be satisfied with nothing less than the
extirpation of episcopacy, root and branch.—I
think, that though many of the puritan divines
would have wished to retain episcopacy, it is
evident that there ‘existed a party, since the
beginning of this parliament, who conspired
the subversion of the church.—Rapin repre-
sents the whole body of the puritans, which
he calls presbytertans, as having formed a con-
spiracy against the church.* This is how-
ever not correct. The most respectable puri-
tans were only for reducing episcopacy into
its primitive state, and for removing innovations
in the church. But it must be acknowledged,
that many were then hostile to the constitution
of thé church, being supported by the Scots
commissioners, who had conceived a: strong
antipathy against episcopacy, and had actually
voted it contrary to the word of God! This was.
. not the case with many of the best of the puritans,
who only desired to get rid of the exorbitant
power exercised by some of the bishops. As the
* Hist, of Eng. vol. ii, pp. 359, 447, fol. ed.
238 : LIFE-OF BISHOP HALL.
influence of: the Scots increaged,; presbyterian
discipline prevailed; and when the parliament
were at their mercy, and forced to submit to what
conditions they would impose upon them:for
their assistance, the Kirk discipline gained: the
ascendant, and at last it was advanced into a
divine right in the assembly of divines !*
It is said that about this time a plot was dis-
covered ‘to bring up from the north the army to
dissolve the. parliament: this rumour caused
much ferment among the people; whether there
was any truth in it or not, it was made a handle
to alienate the affection of the people from the
king, Thus every kind of fuel was accumulated
to kindle the fire of civil war and rebellion.
While the commons were thus making prepara-
tions for the subversion of the establishment, they
were also active in proceeding ‘against papists.
It is said that they had a considérable share in the
present -calamities. They were numerous, and
were become insolent and proud. The queen
being a papist, protected and countenanced them.
And the king, though he was undoubtedly
attached firmly to the protestant religion, yet
partly. from the mildness and humanity of his
temper, and chiefly from respect to the queen,
* Neal's Hist. of the Puritans, vol. ii, p.443.
MEASURES AGAINST PAPISTS. 299
was rather reniiss in executing: the laws against
them ;..s0 his enemies made it.a pretence that
he himself countenanced and protected. them :
that there existed a secret design of introducing
popery, and that several bishops and clergymen
were in the plot. There was. no truth in this.
Butit was evident that the face of things was
very much changed since the commencement of
this parliament, and that it was not in the king's
power even to protect the catholics. All:the
officers of that persuasion were therefore removed
from the army ; the judges iand magistrates were
ordered to. put the laws in. execution against
popish: priests and Jesuits: and. catholics .
throughout the kingdom were commanded to be
disarmed: In order. more effectually to increase
the. popular fear of popery, Mr. Pym. gravely
alleged the discovery of. a conspiracy against the
parliament, and moved; “ thaá..a pratestation
might be entered. into by thé members of both
houses.”. A.protestation was therefore made to
this effect, that they. did in .the, presence of
Almighty God, promise, . vow, 'and protest to
maintain and defend, with their lives, power.and
estates, the true reformed protestant religion;
expressed in the doctrine of. the: church - of
England, against all popery, -and popish innova-
tions .within this realm, contrary to the samé
240 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
doctrine; and also his Majesty’s . person, the
power and privilege of parliament, the rights and
liberties of the subjects, &c. &c. After being
subscribed by all the commons, it was sent up
to the house of lords, and. was readily assented
to by all the lords spiritual and temporal, except
the Earl of Southampton and Lord Roberts, who
positively refused it, since there was no law that
enjoined it, and since the consequence of such
engagements might produce effects which were
not then intended. Within two days after, with-
out acquainting the peers, and contrary to the
intention of most who took the protestation, the
house of commons voted an explanation of it, as
it was now in their power to put what sense they
pleased upon it; their explication of it, therefore,
was, that it did not extend to the maintaining of
any form of worship or government in the churcb
of England. And lest it should not be sub.
scribed voluntarily by the whole nation, as they
desired, a bill was prepared and passed to com-
pel all his Majesty's subjects to subscribe it. The
lords however rejected such a bill. And the
commons in anger, imputed it to the bishops and
popish. lords, immediately resolved, that who-
soever should not take the protestation, was unfit
to bear office in the church or commonwealth.
At the same time they passed several severe
IMPEACHMENT OF THE EARL OF STRAFFORD. 241
votes against the bishops and the church.*—-
“This was," says Neal, ** carrying matters to a
very extraordinary length : there . had. been a
parliamentary association in the reign of Queen
Elizabeth, which her Majesty confirmed ; and a
solemn league and covenant in Scotland, which
the king had complied with; but the enforcing
a protestation or vow upon his Majesty's subjects,
without his consent, was assuming a power,
which even this dangerous crisis of affairs, and
the uncommon authority with which this parlia-
ment was invested by the Act of Continuance,
can by no means support or justify.”
The changes, which took place since the com-
mencement of this parliament, and during its
continuance, were truly astonishing and prodi-
gious. It will be proper here to take a brief view
of some civil occurrences, which paved the way
for them. The parliament, designing to bring -
corrupt ministers to justice, began with Thomas
Wentworth, Earl of Strafford, an able statesman,
but hostile to the laws and liberties of his country,
and impeached him of high treason, Nov. 11, 1640.
Upon this he was taken into custody, committed
to the tower, and brought to trial the 22d of
' * Warner’s Eccles. Hist. of Eug. vol. ii, p. 542. Walker's
Sufferings of the Clergy, parti, p. 22.
t Hist. of the Puritans, vol. ii, p. 419.
R
949 ‘LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
March following. Harris’says, that the king and’
queen attended his trial incog.* The king made
some attempts to save his life, but through fear
or irresolution, he was at last prevailéd upon to
sign the bill of attainder. And on the 12th of
May, 1641, the unhappy Thomas Wentworth was
beheaded upon Tower-hill, and submitted to the
axe with a Roman bravery and courage :—the
writer would have been glad to add rather that
he died. with Christian fortitude, and in a hope
full of immortality; but he cannot find any such
account in the historians of.the day.
During the trial; as being a case of blood, the
bishops did not attend ; consequently the bill of
attainder passed with the dissent of only eleven
peers. | |
About this time, that most extraordinary: bill,
in which it was stated, ‘‘ that this présent parlia-
ment shall not be adjourned, or dissolved, without
their own consent,” passed: both houses with'very
little opposition, and obtained the royal assent! !
All men stood amazed at the king's weakness
on this occasion: for by this hasty and unadvised
measure he concurred ina change of the whole
constitution, giving to parliament a legislative
power.as long as they pleased! If the king had
* Life of Charles I, p. 370, ed. 1814.
STAR CHAMBER, &c. ABOLISHED. - 243
fixed: the continuance of this parliament to a
limited time, it might probably have been satis-
factory, and thé prerogative be saved; bat by
make. them perpetual} ‘he parted with’ the
sceptte out of his own hands, and put it into the
hands: of this ‘parliament, : which’ had" alrdady
shewn: suely hostile disposition to’ the constitution
in church and state: | |
Two other bills weré now ready ‘for the royal
assent—one to abolish the court of high com-
mission, and regulate the privy council; the other
to take away the star-chamber. - These bills
passed and obtained the royal assent about the
latter end of July, 1641. The high commission
court was erected by Queen Elizabeth: its juris-
diction’ extended over the whole kingdom; it
suspended and deprived men of their livings.
Instead: of producing witnesses in open court
to prove a charge against a person, the commis-
sioners: assumed a power of administering an oath
ex officio, by which a person was bound to answer
al questions, and might thereby be obliged to
accuse himself or his most intimate friend. If he
refused this oath, he was imprisoned for con-
tempt; and if he took it, he was convicted upon
his’ own confession. Though this court was
intended to reform ecclesiastical errors, and to
check heresies and schisms, yet it was often
abused to vex and harass persons upon trivial
R2
pom 0n
244 — LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
occasions; so that it was become a kind of inqui-
sition; as Granger says, “ it was armed with an
inquisitorial power to force any one to confess
what he knew, and to punish him at discretion."*
'The star chamber was also a court consisting
of certain noblemen, bishops, judges and coun-
sellors, nominated by the sovereign who was the
sole judge when present; the other members
were only to give their opinion by way of advice.
But in the absence of the sovereign, the deter
mination was by a majority, the lord chancellor
or keeper having a casting vote. This court was
grown so unmerciful in its censures and punish-
ments, that it was a great oppression to the
nation.T | '
co
* Granger's Biog. Hist. vol. i, p.206. See also Hume's
Hist. of England, vol. v, p. 189.
+ See Clarendon, vol.i, pp. 74, 68, &c.—In the ancient
year books, it is called Camera Stellata, not because the cham-
ber where the court was kept was adorned with stars, but
because it was the seat of the great court, and the name was
given according to the nature of its judges. “‘ It was a glorious
sight upon a star-day when the Knights of the Garter appear
with the stars on their garments, and the judges in their scarlet; -
and in that posture they have sat sometimes from nine in the
morning till five in the afternoon. And it was usual for those
that came to be auditors, to be there by three in the morning to
get convenient places and standing. The Warden of the Fleet,
or his deputy, constantly attended in court to receive their
Lordships’ commands, as there was occasion." — ** This court
often inflicted fines and punishments; but it was only in the
days of Charles I. that cropping of ears, slitting of noses, brand-
ing of faces, whipping, and gagging, were heard of in it."
Rushworth, vol.ii, p. 479.
+ Harris's Life of Charles I, p. 308, ed. 1814.
. IMPEACHMENT OF THE BISHOPS. 245
By the passing of the act for abolishing these
courts, the whole authority and power of spiritual
courts were effectually destroyed. When the
king hesitated to give his royal assent to this bill,
some of the bishops persuaded him to sign.it,
in order to take off the odium from that bench,
that they were averse to reformation.
When these two courts were abolished, which
were the principal cause of the grievances com-
plained of, and the chief engines. of arbitrary
proceedings in church and state, one might have
supposed that surely now the church should have
rest and quietness :—but no: it must be destroyed
root and branch. Reformation could not be per-
fected till episcopacy was abolished, and * the
goodly lands and revenues" of the church be
enjoyed by the reformers.
The commons were not able to devise any
effectual method to accomplish their intended
change, while the bench of bishops remain-
ed united in the house of peers. Several
schemes were contrived to divide them, but
proved unsuccessful. It was first proposed to
impose large fines upon both houses of convoca-
tion for compiling the late canons, and a bill for
that purpose was introduced, butlaid aside. For
it was thought more effectual for the present to
make examples of those bishops only who were
the principal actors in these matters. | Accord-
246 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
ingly a committee was appointed July 31, 1641,
to draw up an impeachment-against thirteen of the
bishops, viz. Dr. Curle, bishop of Winchester ;
Dr: Wright, bishop of Coventry and Lichfield ;
Dr. Goodman, bishop of Gloucester; Dr. Jos.
Hall, bishop of Exeter; Dr. Owen, bishop of St.
Asaph; Dr.Pierse, bishop: of Bath and Wells:
Dr. Coke, bishop of Hereford; Dr: Wren, bishop
of Ely; Dr.Roberts, bishop of Bangor; ‘Dr.
Skinner, bishop of Bristol; Dr.Warner, bishop
of Rochester; Dr. Towers, bishop of Petér- -
borough; Dr. Owen, bishop of Landaff.* ' "The
impeachment was of high crimes and misde-
meanours ;—“ For making and publishing the late
canons, -contrary to the king’s prerogative, to the
fundamental laws of the realm, to the rights of
parliament, and to the property and liberty of the
subject; and containing matters tending to sedition,
and of dangerous consequence; and for granting a
benevolence or contribution to his Majesty, to be
paid by the clergy of that province, contrary to law.”
It was carried up to the house of Lords about the
beginning of August, by serjeant Wild, who
demanded in the name of all the commons of
England, that the ‘bishops’ might be forthwith
.* Neal includes Dr. Laud archbishop’ of Canterbury in this
list, and.leaves out ;the bishbp of Hereford; but Dr. Laud at
this time was in the Tower.—See Walker’s Sufferings of the
Clergy, parti, p.7; part ii, p. 34.
BISHOPS’ DEFENCE. 247
put to answer. the crimes and misdemeanours
above mentioned, ie the presence of the hause of
commons; and that such further proceedings
might be had against them as to law and justice
appertained. The commons were in hopes that
the bishops would now have quitted their votes in
parliament in order to be discharged of the pre-
munire: but they determined and resolved to
abide by their right, and therefore only desired
time to prepare their answer and council. They
were allowed accordingly three months’ time to
put:in their answer, and to prepare council: for
this purpose they nominated Serjeant Jermyn,
Mr. Chute, Mr. Herne, and Mr. Hales, as their
‘council.
‘Nov. 12, 1641, the bishops delivered in their
answers in writing, except the bishop of Glouces.
ter, who pleaded not guilty by word of mouth.
Their:answers, consisting of a plea and demurrer,
were drawn up for them by their council Mr.
"Ohute, with such strength of argument and learn-
ing, that their impeachment sunk away in silence.*
The ‘bishops’ defence was made by a demurrer,
with a view to prove that what they had done in
the late convocation, could not amount to a
* Fullers Church Hist. b. xi, p. 183.—Neal's Hist. of the
Puritans, vol. ii, p. 449.- Walkers Sufferings of the Clergy,
part i, p. 7.
948 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
premunire. Bishop Hall, on this occasion, made
the following impressive speech in defence of the
canons made in convocation :
* My Lords: | |
*I cannot choose but know, that whosoever
rises up in this cause must speak with the disad-
vantage of much prejudice; and, therefore, I do
humbly cravé your lordships’ best construction.
Were it, my lords, that some few doubting per-
sons were to be satisfied in some scruples about
matter of the canons, there might be some life in
the hope of prevailing; but, now that we are
borne down with such a torrent of general and
resolüte contradiction, we yield: but yet, give us
leave, 1 beseech you, so to yield, that posterity
may not say we have willingly betrayed our own
innocence, |
* First, therefore, let us plead to your lordships .
and the world, that, to abate the edge of that
illegality, which is objected to us, it was our
obedience, that both assembled and kept us
together, for the making ofsynodical acts. We had
the great seal of England for it; seconded by the
judgments of the oracles of law and justice: and,
upon these, the command of our superior, to
whom we have sworn and owe canonical obe-
dience. Now in this case, what should we do?
Was it for us to judge of the great seal of
SPEECH IN PARLIAMENT. : 249
England? orto judge of our judges ?. alas! : we
are not for the law, but for the gospel; or to dis-
obey that authority, which was to be ever sacred
tous? I beseech your lordships, put yourselves
a while into our condition. Had the case been
yours,. what would you have done? If we obey
not, we are rebels to authority: if we obey,
we are censured for illegal procedures. Where
are we now, my lords? Itis an old rule of cas-
uists, emo tenetur esse perplexus. Free us, one
way or other: and shew us, whether we must
rather hazard censure, or incur disobedience.
** In the next place, give us. leave to plead our
goodintentions. Since we must make new canons,
I persuade myself we all came, I am sure I can
.speak for one, with honest and zealous desires to
do God and his church good service; and
expected to have received great thanks, both of
church and commonwealth: for your lordships
see, that the main drift of those canons was to
repress and confine the indiscreet and lawless
discourses of some either ignorant or parasitical,
I am sure offensive preachers; to suppress the
growth of Socinianism, Popery, Separatism; to
redress some abuses of ecclesiastical courts and
officers: in all which, I dare say your lordships
do heartily concur with them. And if, in the
manner of expression, there have been any failings,
I shall humbly beseech your lordships, that those
250 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
may not be too much stood upon, where the main
substance is-well meant, and in itself profitable.
. * In the third place, give me leave to put your
-lordships in mind of:the:continual practice of the
Christian church, since the first synod of the
Apostles, Acts.xv. to this present day: wherein I
suppose it. can. never be showed, that ever any
ecclesiastical canons made by the bishops and
-elergy in synods, general, national, provincial,
were either offered.or required to be confirmed
-by parliaments. Emperors and princes, by whose
authority . those synods were called, have still
.:given their power to the ratification and execu-
tion of them ; and none others: and, if you please
to look into the times within the ken of memory
or somewhat beyond it, Linwood’s constitutions,
what parliaments confirmed? The injunotions of
Queen Elizabeth; the canons:of King James, were
never tendered to the parliament for confirmation ;
and yet have so far obtained hitherto, that the
government of the church was by them still regu-
lated. Compare, I beseech you, those of King
James with the present: your lordships shall find.
them many, peremptory, resolute; standing upon
their own grounds, in points much harder of
_ digestion than these, which are but few and only
seconds to former constitution. If, therefore, in
this we have erred, surely the whole. christian
church of all places and times hath erred with
SPEECH IN PARLIAMENT. 251
us: either, therefore, we shall have too good
company in the censure; or else we shall ‘be
excused. |
“Fourthly, give me leave to urge the authority
of these canons. In which regard, if I might
without offence speak it, I might say that the
complainants have not, under correction, laid a
right ground of their accusation. They say we
have made canons and constitutions: alas! my '
lords, we have made none. We neither did nor
could make canons, more than they can make
laws. 'The canons are so to the church, as laws
are for the commonwealth. Now they do but
rogare lerem: they do not ferre or sancire legem:
that is only for the king to do: it is le roi le veut,
that of bills makes laws. So was it for us to do
in matter of canons: we might propound some
such constitutions, as we should think might be
useful: but, when we have done, we send them
to his Majesty; who perusing them cum avisa-
mento Consilit sui, and approving them, puts life
into them, and of dead propositions makes them
canons. As, therefore, the laws are the king's
laws, and not ours ; so are the canons the king's
canons, and not the clergy’s. Think thus of
them; and then draw what conclusions you
please. |
* As for that pecuniary business of our contribu-
tion, wherein we are said to have trenched upon
. 959 LIFE OF. BISHOP HALL.
the liberty of subjects and propriety of. goods; I
beseech your lordships, do but see the difference
of times. We had a precedent for it. The same
thing was done in Queen Elizabeth’s time, in a
mulct of three shillings the pound, and that after
the end of the parliament, with the same clauses
of suspension, sequestration, deprivation, without
noise of any exception; which now is cried down
. foran unheard-of encroachment. How legal it may
be, I dispute not; and did then make bold to
move: but, let the guide of that example, and the
zeal that we had to the supply of his Majesty’s
necessities, excuse us a tanto at least; if, having
given these as subsidies fitting the parliament, and
the bill being drawn up for the confirmation of
the parliament, we now, upon the unhappy disso-
lution of it, as loth to retract so necessary a grant,
were willing to have it continued to his Majesty's
use,
“ But, my lords, if I may have leave to speak my
. own thoughts, I shall freely say, that, whereas
there are three general concernments, both of
. persons and causes, merely ecclesiastical, merely
temporal, or mixt of both ecclesiastical and tem-
poral: as it is fit, the church by her synod should
take cognizance of and order for the first, which
is merely ecclesiastical ; so, next under his
Majesty, the parliament should have the power of
ordering the otber.
SPEECH IN PARLIAMENT. 253
* But, in the mean time, my lords, where are
we? The canons of the church, both late and
former, are pronounced to be void and forceless.
The church is a garden or vineyard enclosed: the
laws and constitutions of it are as the wall or
hedge: if these be cast open, in what state are
we? Shall the enemies of this church have such
an advantage of us, as to say, we are a lawless
church: or shall all men be left loose to their
licentious fredom? God in heaven forbid !
* Hitherto, we have been quietly and happily
governed by those former canons: the extent
whereof we have not, I hope, and for some of us,
I am confident we have not, exceeded. Why
should we not be so still? Let these late canons
sleep, since you will have it so, till we awake
them, which shall not be till doomsday ; and let
us be where we were, and regulate ourselves by
those.constitutions which were quietly submitted
to on all hands: and, for this, which is past, since
that which we did was out of our true obedience,
and with honest and godly intentions and accor-
ding to the universal practice of all Christian
Churches, and with the full power of his Majesty's
authority, let it not be imputed to us as any way
worthy of your Lordships' censure."*
* Bishop Hall’s Works, vol. x, pp. 67-69.
CHAPTER VII.
qe
THE time was now come, within two or three
days, for the king’s intended journey into Scot-
land: the commons therefore thought proper to
lay aside their debates about the church, which
were becoming daily more involved and intri-
cate, and to attend to other affairs more necessary
for the public good. The business of both houses
being very urgent and the time short; they voted,
that, in this'case of necessity, they would sit the
next day, being Sünday, by.six o'clock in the
morning. After having first heard a sermon,
they feturned to the house about nine, and sat all
day. (Sunday, Aug. 8, 1641.) The house of lords
were also prevailed upon to do the same. "There
never was any other such instance known before,
since the first institution of parliament. How-
ever, lest this might be misconstrued as a profa-
nation, or be drawn into example, they published
the following declaration:
* Whereas both houses of parliament found
it fit to sit in parliament upon the 8th of August,
KING’S JOURNEY TO SCOTLAND. 258:
being Lord's day, for many urgent occasions;
being straitened in time, by his Majesty's. resoln-
tion to go within a day or-two to Scotland; they
think it fit to declare that they would not have:
done this but upon inevitable ‘necessity; the
peace and safety of both church and state being:
so deeply concertied,.. which :they do. hereby:
declare to this end, that neither any other inferior
court or council, or any other person, may draw.
this into. example,‘ or ‘ake: use of it for their.
encoufagettient; in: negleeting the due observance
of the Lord'& day." . .. |. ,
The’ King; set: óut for Scotland, Aug. 11, 1641,
and arrived. in: Edinburgh in. three or four days.
During-the kise’s absence, both-houses of parha-
ment: continued: their sittings.. But, as the $um-
mer was. drawing.’ te: a: close; and the plague
increasing" in Londo, many ‘members of. both
houses "went. down: to. the couutry.: And . those
who remaimed in town, were not very-solicitous to
attend parliament, This: was: an‘:-opportunity,
which the enemies of ‘the chutch: did: not. fail to
improve. When therefore-there were only: about
one hundred and twenty members . present, they
entered: ori: a debate about thelbook of Common
Prayer. They pretended that, :asmany things in it
gave great offence, or:at.least,. umbrage to tender
consciences, they- proposed .that there might. be.a
liberty to disuse it.. But. such.a motion, at this
256: LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
time, was of so: unacceptable a nature, that
though the house was. so thinly attended, and it
was much urged by persons of the greatest autho-
. rity and power, yet it was so far from being
assented to, that it was resolved by a great majo-
rity, that the book of Common Prayer should be
duly observed. However, the next day, contrary
to all rules and order of parliament, many being
absent, who had a share in the debate the day
before, the house suspended the above order, and
resolved, * that the. standing of the communion
table in all churches should be altered, the rails.
should be pulled down, the chancels should be
levelled, and that no manshould presume to bow at
the name of Jesus."* Having digested these godly
resolutions into an order, they carried it to the
house of lords, presuming that, on account of the
paucity of number in the house of peers, there
would be no dissent. But the lords were much
offended at such presumption relating to an affair,
which had so plain a tendency to disturb the
peace of the church, and interrupt its settled and
legal government; and they not only refused to
concur with them, but directed an order made
about seven months before to be printed and dis-
persed; requiring * divine service to be per-
. formed as it is appointed by acts of parliament,
* Clarendon, vol. i, b.iv, p.292.
LECTURERS. 207 .
and all such as shall disturb that wholesome
order to be punished severely according to law."
The commons, enraged at this refusal, pursued
their former order, and declared that this of the
" lords should not be obeyed. In the midst of this
ferment aud opposite councels, the sword having -
been taken out of the hands of the spiritual courts,
itis no‘ wonder that the state of religión was so
unsettled, and that the proper forms of worship in
the church were but negligently observed. Under
pretence of encouraging preaching, the commons
licensed lecturers in every parish; and recom-
mended such lecturers in all populous places, as
were not well affected to the government in
church and state. Dr. Walker, in his * Sufferings
of the Clergy,” gives a curious account of these
factious lecturers, with some no less curious and
strange specimens of their lectures. These lec-
turers were designed as a kind of ¢ools in the
hands of the commons, to undermine the fabric of
the:church.* Neal, speaking of these lecturers,
says,“ far be it from me to apologize for the
furious preachers of these times: though the
complaints of the royalists are very much exag-
gerated.” T
Both houses now consented to a recess, and so
* Part i, pp. 16-20.
t Hist. of the Puritans, vol, ii, p. 463.
3
258 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
adjourned for about.six weeks. Bishop. Hall,
during his Majesty’s absence in Scotland, and this
recess, went down.to Exeter; and upon the day
of thanksgiving for the pacification between the
Scots and.the English, Sep. 7, 1641, preached in
thecathedral of Exeter, from Ps. x1v1,8,9. “ Come,
behold the works of the Lord, what desolations he
hath made in the earth. He maketh wars to cease
unto the ends of the earth.” The good bishop, in
this excellent discourse, after taking a. general
survey of God's wonderful works, and then a
special view of the divine justice, took occasion
to consider the mercy of God. in appeasing all
broils.and tumults, and pathetically adverted. to
the troubles of the church 4nd state: ‘‘ Are we
troubled with the fears or remours of war? Are
we grieved with the quarrels and. dissensions, that
we find within the bosom. of our.own nation-or
church? . Woiild: we earnestly . desire :to ‘find all
differences:composed, and a:constant peace settled
amongst us? We see WHITHER TO MAKE OUR
ADDRESS, even ‘to that Omnipotent: God, ‘‘ whe
maketh wars to cease unto the ends of the.carih;
who breaketh the bow, and snappeth the spear in
sunder.” And, surely, if ever any nation had
cause to complain in the midst of a public: peace,
of the danger of private distractions and factious
divisions, ours is it; wherein 1 know not how
many uncouth sects are lately risen out of hell,
SERMON AT EXETER. 259
to the disturbance of our wonted peace; ail of
them eagerly pursuing their own various fancies,
and opposing our formerly received truth. What
should we do then, but betake oursalves4n our
earnest supplications to the God: of peace, with a:
* help, Lorti?* Never ceasing to solicithim with
our prayers, that‘he would be pleased so to order:
the hearts of men, that they might incline to a-
happy agreement; at least to a meek cessation’ of
those unkind quarrels, wherewith the church is
thus miserably afflicted.”
Hence it appears how grieved ‘Bishop Hall
was at the present sad state of the church, and
how much he Pamented ‘the deplorable discords,
which were threatening destruction to the consti-
tution in church and state. He again feelingly
observed, “ Woe is me, with what words should I
. bewail the deplorable estate of these late times in
this behalf! Let me appeal to your own: eyes
and ears.’ I know I speak to judicious christians.
Tell me whether ever you lived to see such an
inundation of libellous, scandalous, malicious
pamphlets, as‘have lately broke in upon us; not
only against some particular persons which may
havé been faulty enough ; but against the lawful and
established government itself; against the ancient,
allowed, legal forms of divine- worship. | Cer-
tainly, if we love the peace of this church and king--
dom, we cannot but lament, and, to our power,
S2
260 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
oppose these insolencies. If reformation be the
thing desired and aimed at, let not that man
prosper, which doth not affect it, pray for it, bend .
his utmost endeavours to accomplish it: but is
this the way to a christian reformation, to raise.
slanders, to broach lying accusations against the
innocent; to calumniate lawful and established
authority? God forbid! These are the acts of him;
that is the manslayer from the beginning. The
Holy. God hates to raise his kingdom by the aid
of the devil. Be as zealous as you will: but be,
withal, just: be charitable’ and endeavour to
advance good causes, by only lawful means.
And then, let him come within the compass of the
curse of Meroz, that is not ready to assist and
second you.*”
These extracts from the bishop’s sermon cast a
considerable light upon the iniquitous proceed- -
ings then. carried on for the subversion of the
church. The means employed at this time to
render people disaffected towards the rulers in
church and state were certainly very scandalous,
and so very reverse to that meek and peaceable
disposition, the characteristic of genuine chris-
tianity: ** Pray for the peace of Jerusalem,” says
the Psalmist, “they shall prosper that love thee."
** Certainly, thus it should be," says Bishop Hall,.
. * Bishop, Hall's Works, vol. v, pp. 479—481.
THE VACANT DIOCESES FILLED. -261
** but, alas, we are fallen upon times, wherein
it is cause enough for a quarrel, to plead. for
peace!”
Whilst the king was in Scotland, a report was
circulated, that, as he had conceded so much to
the Scots in abolishing episcopacy, he would-be
persuaded. to introduce presbytery into England
at his return; upon which, the king sent a letter
to the clerk of the council, * commanding him to
assure all his servants, that he would be constant
to the doctrine and discipline of the church of
England, and that he resolved by the grace of
God to die in the maintenance of it." This was
dated Edinburgh, Oct. 18, 1641.
His Majesty, during his stay in Seotland,
resolved to fill up those sees which were become
vacant by death or translation; he therefore
ordered several Conge d'elires to be drawn up for
that purpose.
But .when the commons heard of this designa-
tion, they were much disturbed and troubled, that,
at a time when they were intent upon taking. away
the old bishops, the king should presume to make
new ones. They therefore voted a committee to
draw up reasons to be presented to the house of
lords, for joining with them in a petition to his
Majesty, that he would suspend his commands
till he returned home.. The king, however, in a
short time after, collated to the vacant sees, and
i262 «4 LIFE OF- BISHOP HAHL..
translated to others, menjof great eminence in.the
church, frequent preachers, and.not one to whom
the faults of the governing clergy were then im-
puted, or against whom the least objection could
be. made. The promotions. and: translations,
which accordingly. then took. place, were the
following, viz. Dr. Williams, bishop. of Lincoln,
was made archbishop of York in the room of
Dr. Neile deceased: Dr. Winniffe, dean of St.
Paul's, a grave and moderate diyine, was.made
bishop of Lincoln; Dr. Duppa, bishop of Chi-
chester was translated to Salisbury, vacant by
the death of Dr.. Davenant: and Dr. King, dean
of Rochester was promoted to, Chichester. Dr.
Jos. Hall was. sow translated from; Exeter, to
Norwich, in the room of Dr. Montágue deceased.
Dr. Brownrigge, master of Catherine Hall, Cam-
bridge, an. eminent. and learned divine, was
advanced to Exeter. Dr. Skinner was translated
from Bristol to Oxford, vacant by the death of
Dr. Bancroft. ..And. Dr. Westfield, archdeacon
of St. Albans, 3 very: popular preacher, was pro-
moted to Bristol. Dr. Prideaux, king’s professor
of divinity in Oxford, .was. made bishop of. Wor-
cestor, in the room of Dr. Thornborough decea-
sed. The see of Carlisle ‘being. also vacant by
the death of Dr. Barnabas Potter, who was called
the penitential preacher, was given in commendam
to the most reverend Dr. Usher, archbishop of
INSURRECTION 'EN IRELAND. . 963
. Armagh and primate of Ireland. All these were
very eminent and excellent divines, and were
ornaments of their profession: It was a proof of
the king’s consulting the welfare of:the church in
this very critical time, to promote such characters.
Neal invidiously remarks that **most of these
divines stood well.in the opinion of the people,
but their accepting bishoprics.in this crisis did.
neither the king nor.themselves any service.” *
But was not their accepting of bishopries at such
a time a proof. of.their determination to stand up
in defence of the church to the last extremity ?
Was it not a proof of their sincerity, of their
undiminished : attachment. and : affection to the
Church? .And was there not here a demonstra- .
tion of his Majesty’s disposition of'promoting the
prosperity of the church and the welfare of his
subjects to the utmost? ©
Before the king left Scotland, news arrived i in
London, Nov. 1, 1641, that the papists of Ireland
had made a general msurrection, and committed
a most cruel and bloody massacre of the pro-
testants'of that kingdom. -Neal and other histo-
rians insinuate that the king was not unacquainted
with these barbarities: but there is no sufficient
proof: that his Majesty was at all a promoter of
> Hist. of the Puritans, vol.ii, p. 480.
264 ' LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
such enormities. However, through the .dis-
sentions between the king and parliament, effec-
tual means of suppressing it were delayed too
long: so that, because a timely relief was not
afforded to Ireland, it proved ultimately very
disadvantageous to the king.
, The two houses of parliament were no sooner
assembled after the recess, than a: motion was
made in the house of commons to revive the com-
mittee appointed at the beginning of this parlia-
ment, in order to draw up a general remonstrance
of the state of the nation, and the particular.
grievances it had sustained. This extraordinary
bill was presented to the king at Hampton Court,
Dec. 1, 1641, about a week after his return from
Scotland. . | |
‘Some such remonstrance was probably season-
able and proper, when the parliament first. met
after a scene of arbitrary power and oppression
for so many years: but at this time it was unne-
cessary and unseasonable, when the grievances
complainéd of had been redressed, and since the
king had already made so many concessions.
The remonstrance was read in the house of com-
mons, Nov. 22, when it met with so strong an
opposition, that it was carried only by nine voices,
Clarendon says: but Harris, in his life of Crom-
well, p. 73, says, that “ the numbers for passing
the remonstrance were one hundred and fifty nine,
REMONSTRANCE OF THE COMMONS. 265
against it one hundred and forty eight, -so it was
carried by eleven voices,"* after a long debate. of
twelve hours, from three in the afternoon till three
in the morning, which made one of the members
to say, “ It looked like the verdict of a starved
jury."f This remonstrance contained a long and
bitter representation ofall the illegal acts of admini-
stration from his Majesty's accession to that time.
It was accompanied with a petition for redress of
the grievances therein contained. As far as it
concerned the church, it was stated in the peti-
tion, * that his Majesty would concur with his
people in-a parliamentary way, for depriving the
bishops of their votes in parliament, and abridging
their immoderate power usurped over the clergy,
and other his good subjects, to the hazard of reli-
gion, and the prejudice of the just liberties of his
people:—for the taking away such oppressions
in religion, church government and discipline, as
* Journal, 22 Nov. 1641.
T Harris, in his Life of Cromwell, p.70, supposes the per-
son who made this remark was Sir Benj. Rudyard, who, accord-
ing to Willis, was in three parliaments, the representative for
Portsmouth, afterwards returned for old Sarum, for Downton,
and for Wilton. See Whitlock’s Memorials, p. 61; aud Neal's
History of the Puritans, vol. ii, p. 481. : Welwood, in his
* Memoirs," p.62, says, that ‘‘ the debate lasted from three
o'clock in the afternoon till ten o'clock next morning!!" A
bill for depriving the bishops of their seats and votes in parlia-
ment had before been cast out and rejected by the peers: it
was certainly not only unreasonable, but very uuparliamentary,
to presume to introduce such a bill again in the same session.
266 | LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
have been brought in and fermented by them ; and
‘for uniting. all such loyal subjects as agree in
fundamentals against. papists, by removing some
oppressions and unnecessary ceremonies, by which
divers weak consciences have been offended, ard
seemed divided from the rest." And lastly, his
Majesty was requested ** to remove from his
councils all favourers of popery and arbitrary
power, and promoters of the above-mentioned
pressures and corruptions, and to employ suchas
his parliament might confide in; and that in. his
princely goodness he would reject all solicitations
to the contrary, how powerful and near soever,"*
The king.iu his answerto this petitionabouta week
after, remonstrated with great. justice against the
disrespect of the commons in printing-their remon-
strance before he. had time to return an,answer.
His Majesty declared,. * that he was very willing
to concur with all,the just desires of his people ina
parliamentary way, for preserving the peace of
the kingdom from the designs of the popish
party. He thought the right of the bishops to
vote in parliament was grourided on the funda-
mental laws of the kingdom, and.constitutions-of
parliament; and there needed .no other answer
to that at present, since they desired his concur-
. * Nalsou's Collections, vol. ii, Pe G93. Welwood's Memoirs,
p. 243.
REPLY. OF THE KING. 267
rence in a: parliamentary way. As for abridging :
the extradrdinary...power. of the clergy, his
Majesty said, that he thought the abolishing the
‘High.Commission, with. that clause relating to all.
eoclesiastical jurisdiction, had already moderated
that power; but if there continued any usurpa-
tions, or excesses, in their jurisdiction, he neither
had, nor.would protect them. Concerning church
corruptions, as.they were styled, and removing
unnecessary ceremonies, the king told them, that
he was willing: to concur in the removal of: any
illegal innovations, which have crept in; and if
the parliament advised to a national synod, he
would consider of it, and apply himself to: give
satisfaction init. But hé. was sorry to ‘hear
in such. general ‘terms of corruption in religion,
since .he.was persuaded in his own conscience,
that no church can be found upon earth, that
professes: the .true religion with more purity of
doctrine;. than the church of England does; nor
where the. government and discipline are jointly
more beautiful, and free from superstition, than
they are here established by law; which by the
grace of God he would with constancy maintain
in their purity and glory, not only against all
invasions of popery, but also from the irreverence
of those many schismatics and separatists, where-
with of late this kingdom and this city abound,
to the great dishonour and hazard of church and
268 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
State; for the suppression of whom he required
their timely aid, and active assistance."*
. This answer, of course, could not be satisfac-
tory to the commons, and their leaders, who. were
intent upon abolishing the hierarchy tn‘ toto: but
the king treated them with much greater respect
than they deserved. | EMEN
The matters contained in the.petition: and
remonstrance of the state of the nation presented
to the king by the commons, and in the king's
answer, and the declaration he afterwards pub-
lished to the same purpose, were some of the real
causes of the ensuing civil war, and of the cala-
mities sustained by the nation.
December 15,1641, the king published a
declaration T to all his loving subjects, with the
advice of his privy council, in which he professed
himself fully satisfied ‘that the religion. of the
church of England is most agreeable to the word
of God, and that he should ‘be ready: to seal it
with his blood, if God should call him toit. That
as for ceremonies in religion, which are in their
own nature indifferent, he is. willing in tenderness
to any. number of his subjects, that a law should
* See Welwood's Memoirs, p. 286.
t This declaration was drawn up by Mr. Hyde, afterwards
Lord Clarendon; it was so ably done, that it considerably
counteracted the mischief of the remonstrance. See Lord
Clarendon’s Life, vol.i, pp. 85-87.
ROYAL DEGLARATION. 269
be made for the exemption of tender consciences,
from punishment or prosecution for such cere-.
monies, as by the judgment of most men are held
to be indifferent, and of some to be absolutely
unlawful, provided the peace of the kingdom be
not disturbed, nor the present decency and
comeliness of God’s service established in the
church discountenanced: nor the pious, sober,
and devout actions of those reverend persons,
who were the first labourers in the blessed refor-
mation, be scandalized and.defamed. That he
cannot, without grief of heart, and some tax upon
himself and his ministers for not executing the
laws, look upon the bold licence of some men, in
printing pamphlets aud sermons so full of bitter-
ness and malice against the present government,
and .the law established, so full of sedition against
himself and the peace of the kingdom, that he is
many times amazed to consider by what eyes
these things are seen, and by what ears they are
heard; he therefore commands again all his
officers and ministers of justice to proceed against
them with all speed, and put the laws in
execution."* |
It was.expected that the issue of the impeach-
ment of the thirteen bishops for compiling and sub-
* Welwood's Memoirs, pp.291—302. Rushworth, part iii,
vol, i, p. 466. Neal, vol. ii, p. 487.
270 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
scribing the late canons, which were published at
the conclusion of the former parliament, would
have tended greatly to: weaken the court interest
in the house of peers. ‘But the impeached bishops
having put in their answer by way: of demurer, as'
we have above related, dissatisfied and greatly
disappointed the commons, who expected their
lordships would have pleaded directly to. the
accusation. ‘ The peers were moved by Serjeant
Glyn to set aside the demurrer, and to. admit the
commons to prove the charge, or else proceed
immediately to judgment. But the peers, instead
of complying with this request of the commons,
agreed that the bishops should abide by their
demurrer, as they desired, and appointed the
Monday following, Dec. 11, to hear them - by:
their council in: the. presence of the commons.
Thé commons resented this way of :proceeding,
and so' would not appear. . Many of the most
active members now declared among their friends,
with a sort of despair, that they would be con-
cerned no further against the bishops, for they:
saw it was in vain. "The truth is, as Bishop Hall
observes in his * Hard Measure," “ there: was a
general plot and resolution of the faction to alter
the government of the church especially ;" which
. object was not to be accomplished as long as the
bishops were in the way. And it is notimpro-
bable, the malignity of the factious party being
. PETITIONS. 971:
considered, that there’ was: also :à design formed:
against the king, which could not be executed,
as long as the bishops, by. the number of their
votes, were able to oppose and'prevent it. In
this case they saw that they must either give up.
their project, or undertake some more effectual
means to obtain by force, what they were not able
to accomplish in any other way. They imagined
that they could by one bold and vigorous assault,
possess ‘themselves of the entire sovereignty,
therefore, says Bishop Hall, ‘it was contrived to
draw ‘petitions accusatory: from:'many parts: of
the kingdom, against episcopal government :: and
the promoters of the petitions were entertained
with great respects.” Petitions were encouraged:
from all sorts and. ordeis: of people; “ even the
city!dàmes," says Dr. Walker, * sent. an adyress
against’ the votes of the' bishops arid-the popish
lords."* . The apprentices of London sent a peti-
tion directed **to the King's: most':excellent
Majesty ;” desiring that prelacy might: be rooted.
out, that so the work of reformation might: be
prosperously carried on." Dugdale says, in-his
* Short View of. the Toubles in 'England,"t that
there was a paper delivered to-the minister at.
Christ Church, the Sunday following, desirmg that:
* Sufferings of the Clergy, part, i, p. 50.
T: P. $0.
273 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
prayers might be made to God to assist the
apprentices with strength to root out superstition, |
and to extirpate the innovations of the bishops and
clergy." ‘“ Such stuff,” slanderous pamphlets,
libels, canting and factious discourses were
printed and dispersed in abundance with great
industry among the people. The next step taken
was the procuring of a mob to beset the two
" houses of parliament. When these petitions
were carried up to Westminster by the aldermen
and common council of London, who went in a.
procession of sixty coaches, attended by a vast
concourse of the rabble and baser sort; great
tumults and disturbance were occasioned about
the parliament house, particularly when the
apprentices brought up their petition against - the:
bishops. Sir Richard Wiseman, who was at their
head, was killed by a tile or stone from the bat-.
tlements of Westminster Abbey. The house of
lords exerted themselves to disperse the mob, by
sending the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod
to command the people to disperse, and go to
their respective homes. His Majesty also pub-:
lished a proclamation, Dec. 28, 1641, forbidding:
all tumultuous assemblies of the people. But the
commons were very backward in making an
exertion to suppress disturbances; the rabble
therefore ** were animated to the height of inso-
lence, and would make a stand before Whitehall;
"^ TUMULTS. 273
and when the bishops were passing to Westmin-
ster, would cry, * No bishops!" “No popish
lords!” It was pretended that this concourse
of people only waited for an answer to their
petition; but it rather appears that it was designed
to terrify the bishops and their friends from
attending parliament. Certainly no reason: can
be assigned that these tumults were accidental,
as Neal, and others, tell us. The whole process
evidences that it was a contrivance of the party
inimical to the church and state. Even Mr.
Pym said publicly, when it was proposed to
suppress those tumults, * God forbid the house
of commons should in any way proceed to dis-
hearten people to obtain their just desires in this
way!"* Such wasthe zeal of the patriot, and his
friends, for the privileges of parliament, when the
privileges of parliament should have been used in
favour of the church and constitution.
- The tumults still continued about the parlia-
ment house; and the commons encouraged them,
by voting the guard set by the magistrates to
prevent and suppress disorder, to be a breach of
privilege, though there was a legal writ under.
the great seal for appointing such guard. . The
* Clarendon, vol. ii, p. 936. Dugdale's Short View of the
Tronbles in England, p.80. Warner's Eccles. Hist. vol. ii,
p. 549.
T
274 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
rage. and fury of the rabble. against the bishops
grew so great, that they threatened to pull down
their lodgings. The bishops could not now go into
or. out of the parliament house without abuse and
insults, and without manifest danger of their lives.
Dr. Williams, archbishop of York, going. to the
house of peers in company with the Earl of Dover.
and hearing one of the rabble crying out louder
than the rest, * no beshops!” ‘no poptsh lords !”
stept from.the earl, aud laid hands:on him; but
his companions rescued .him, assaulted the
archbishop, and tore his robes from his. back,
and, it was believed, if he had not. been timely
rescued he would have been mutdered.^ The
bishops were now advised.te forbeas their atten-
dance in the.house; but they :were determined to
maintain. their rights, till they were fórced tà
relinquish them. The-streets beihg.:ctowded. with
the rabble, the bishops: agreed. to go-by water td
the house; but, as soon.as :their barges came
near the shore, the-mob saluted them with stones
and other missiles, so. that they were forced to
return to their lodgings, and to forbear their
attendance “ out of a real apprehension of endan-
gering their lives." Upon this, the archbishop of
York calling together as many of the bishops as
* Clarendon's Hist. of the Rebellion, vol. ii, p. 338.
PROTESTATION:OF TH@ BISHOPS. 275. _
were in town (it.being now within few days to
Christmas) to the number of twelve,consulted with
them what measures were best:ito be taken in
this critical juncture. He advised not to attempt
to go to the house any more, and hastily drew up:
a protestation against whatsoever should be done
in both houses in their.absence, addressed:to the:
king and the house of lords; this all the other
bishops approved and signed. Heylin says, -“ as:
this protestation was the last flash of their dying
light, it is proper to keep.it from expiring as long
as possible ;" therefore the reader is here presented
witha copy of it.
“Tu the king's most excellent majesty, and
the lords and peers now assembled in parliament.
“The humble PETITION and PROTESTATION of
all the bishops and prelates now called by. his
Majesty’s writs to attend the parliament, and
present’ about London and Westminster for that
service.—
* WnrenEAs the petitioners are » called up by
several and respective writs, and under: great pen-
alties to attend the parliament, and have a ‘clear
and undubitable right to vote in.bills, and other
matters whatsoever debateablein parliament, by
the ancient customs, laws, and statutes of this
realm, and ought to be protected by your Majesty
quietly to attend and prosecute that great service:
T2
276 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL,
. they humbly remonstrate and protest before God,
your Majesty, and the noble lords and peers now
assembled in parliament, that as they-have an
indubitative right to'sit and vote in the house of
lords, so are they, if they may be protected from
force and violence, most ready and willing to
perform their duties accordingly: and that they
do abominate all actions or opinions tending to
popery and the maintenance thereof; as also, all
propension and inclination to any malignant party,
or any other side. or party whatsoever, to the
which their own reasons and conscience shall not
move them to adhere. But whereas they have been
at several times violently menaced, affronted, and
assaulted, by multitudes of people in their coming
to perform their services. in that honourable
house, and lately chased away and put in danger
of their lives, and can find no redress or protection
upon sundry complaints made to both houses
in these particulars: they humbly protest before
your Majesty, and the noble house of peers, that
saving unto themselves all their rights and interest
of sitting and voting in that house at other times,
they dare not sit or vote in the house of peers
until your Majesty shall further secure them
from all affronts, indignities, and dangers, in the
premises. _ Lastly, whereas their fears are not
built upon fantasies and conceits, but upon such
PROTESTATION OF THE BISHOPS. 277
grounds and objections as may well terrify men of
good resolution and much constancy, they do,: in
all duty and humility, protest before your majesty,
and the peers of that most honourable house . of
parliament, against all laws, orders, votes, resolu-
tions, and determinations as in themselves null,
and of none effect, which in their absence, since
the 27th of this instant month of December, 1641,
have already passed ; as likewise against all such
as shall hereafter pass in that most honourable
house, during the time of this their forced and
violent absence from the said most honourable
house; not denying, but if their absenting them-
selves were wilful and voluntary, that most
honourable house’ might proceed in all these
premises, their.absence on this their protestation
notwithstanding. And humbly beseeching your
most excellent Majesty to command the clerk of
the house of peers, to enter this their petition and
protestation among their records, !
* And they will ever pray God to bless, &c.
John Eborac. - Geo. Hereford.
Thos. Dunelm. Rob. Oxon.
Ro. Cov. Lichf. Mat, Ely.
Jos. Norwich Godírey Gloucester.
Jo. Asaph. Jo. Peterborough.
Gul. Bath and Wells. Mor. Landaff.
This protestation was presented by Archbishop
278 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
Williams to the king, who bastily perused it,*
and sent it to the lord keeper Littleton, “ with.a
command .to present it-to: the house of pgers,” as
Lord Clarendon says: but Hacket, the biogra.
pker.of archbishop Williams, says, ** that. his gnace
put.it iato,the, hands of the lord keeper to be read
when his Majesty was at the house.” However,
the .bishaps, who signed this. protestation, cen-
fided ia the, archbishop’s experieace m the rules
of the; house, .where he sat as speaker for many
years. But it was not difficult to discern that.in
such a.junature, some advantage and ill use
wonld.have beenimade of it, and that it could not
produce ;any, good effect. Upon the reading of
she protestation in the house.of lords.tbe next
maorming, and after some debate, the peers re-
quested. a conference with the commons, when
the.lord keeper in the name of the peers declared
that ‘the protestatien of the bishops contained
matters of high .and dangerous consequenee,
5 .
* The bishops, after having subscribed the protestation,
intended to have further consultation concerning the legal
mode of delivering it. But it appears from Bishop Hall’s
* Hard Measure,” that the archbishop was too hasty and pre-
cipitate; aad that the lord keeper also did take undue advan-
tage of this irregularity, to aggravate “the matter, as highly
offensive and of dangerous consequence,” with a view of ingra-
tiating himself with the house of commons and the faction.
‘Bee Bishop Hall’s “ Hard )Menquse”:forifarther particulars.
IMPEACHMENT OF THE BISHOPS, 279
extending to the intrenching upon the fundamen-
tal privileges and being of parliaments, and there-
fore the lerds thought fit to communicate it to the
commons.” !
The house of conimons took very little time to
consider the: matter; but, within half an hour,
resolved to: accuse the twelve bishops of high
treason, and sent up their impeachment to the
house of lords by Mr. Glyn.
Upon this the usher of the black rod was
ordered to: go immediately in search of them, and
bring them to the bar of the house of lords. ** We
poor souls,” says Bishop Hall in his * Hard
Measure," '** who little thought that we had done
any'thing: that might deserve a chiding, are now
called to our knees at the bar, and charged
severally with /sgh treason; being not a little
astonished at the suddenness of this crimination,
compared. with the perfect innocence of our own
intentions; which were only to bring us to our due
places im parliament with safety and speed, with-
out the least purpose of any man's offence."
As the bishops" lodgings were scattered, it was
eight o'clock at night, Dec.30, ‘in all the
extremity of frost," when all the bishops appeared,
except the bishop of Landaff, who was ordered
to be brought up the next'day. They were seques-
tered from parliament and committed to the
Tower. But the bishops of Durham and Lich-
280 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
field found the favour to stand committed to the
custody of the gentleman usher of the black
rod, the former, on account of his eminent learn-
ing, and both, in regard of their great age and
infirmities. The same favour was solicited for
Bishop Hall by a noble lord, but was not granted.
Respecting this circumstance, Bishop Hall tells
us, ‘“ wherein I acknowledge and bless the
gracious providence of God, for had I been grati- -
fied, I had been undone both in body and purse;
the rooms being strait, and the expence beyond
the reach of my estate.” Fuller therefore and
Neal must be mistaken in ‘telling us that Bishop
Hall was one of the two bishops, who obtained
this favour, and had an allowance of five pounds
_a day for their expences. *
‘Though there might be some indiscretion in toe
precipitately drawing up the above protestation
at such a time, some expressions probably might
be rather unwarrantable, and unfortunately the
manner of presenting it might be irregular; yet
there could not be the least treason whatever in it.
Therefore, the injustice, cruelty, and impiety of
committing twelve venerable bishops to the Tower .
a
* Fuller’s Church Hist. b. xi, p. 188.—Neal’s Hist. of the
Puritans, vol. ii, p. 497. —See also Walker's Sufferings of the
Clergy, part, i, p. 54.
NEW BILL AGAINST THE BISHOPS. 281:
for. the charge. of high treason, whereby their
honour, lives, and fortunes. were liable to be for.
feited, their.names exposed to infamy, and. their |
families to want, rendered the factious.party more.
odious, their.base designs more manifest, and the
respect shewn.to parliament much less. Indeed,
after the factious party had.once resolved. to
subvert the established government, it could not
be expected that their proceedings would be
either regular or. just. In their attacks upon the
church, they scrupled not to transgress all bounds
of justice, charity, and moderation, in the most.
open, base, and shameless manner.*
Immediately after the bishops were committed
to the Tower, the commons sent up to the peers
to desire they would take into consideration the
bill, which had been before them for some months,
for. taking away the bishops’ votes.. The faction
now had a fair opportunity to accomplish their
iniquitous. designs, . which they improved to the
utmost. As it is well known that a bill once
rejected, cannot be regularly presented .in the
same session of parliament, therefore the. bill for
taking away the bishops’ votes, “ which had been
twice before rejected since. the beginning of this
* Warner’s Eccles. Hist. of England, vol. ii, p. 660.
282 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
session,"* was now entitled “A Bill for taking —
away all Femporal Jurisdiction from those in Holy
Osders." The house ef lords being now no
lengar the game: niece the exclusion of the:bishops,
and this extraordinary ball being resumed at such
a juncture, after afew debates, it passed in the
house of lords. by:a great. majority... Dr. Warner,
bishop of Rochester, was the.enly bishop present
left to defend :the-osuse:.wben the bill passed.
This ‘prelate strongly and valiantly defended the
antiquity and justice of bighnps' votes in parlia-
ment. The Earl-of Bedford alse :teok a part in
making a vigorous defeace against the bill: it
was urged: that: if was-contrary-toithe usage of
parliament, when:a bill had been ance rejected,
to bring it in a- second time in the-same session;
to which-it wag:replied, -that it hdd-:now another
title, and therefore not. the same bil, though it was
to accomplish the seme. end !
"Inorder to avoid the:odiam of jnnovating in so
extraordinary a manner upon the constitution, the
Berl of Essexvand Baron.Kimboltan had -befgre”
endeavoured 4o prevail with:ihe bishops volun-
tarily to relinquish their right of voting in parlia-
ment in order to gratify the importunity ofthe
commons, . assuring tlem that the temporal lords
* See Bishop Hall’s ** Hard Measure."
PETITIONS IN FAVOUR OF EPISCOPACY. 268
would -be bound in honder:te support them in all
the essentials ‘of their character, if they would
give up their :nght ia this: particular. But the
bishops ‘would ‘not divest themselves of their
peerage inorder toigratify themaligneancy. of the
factions party, »who were so imtent upon the
destruction of :the ::constitatien iin: church. and
state.* . . |
iWe have. befere mentioned thatthere have. been
great exertions-made in favour of the church.
Petitions had been sent from different parts of the
kingdom, signed: wath nearly-one hundred. theu-
sand -hasds in favour: of the bishops, desiring some
gpeedy course might :be taken;to suppress such
schismatics:and ‘separatists, whose factious spirits
endengered:the peace.of church and.state. Nov.
18, 1641,.a-petition. fram Rutlandshire was pre-
sented.to the house, signed by. about eight. hun-
dred and forty hands, praying for the continuance
of episcopacy, .as the only:govesament of ‘aposto-
Jival. iqstitution, sealed with the blood of martyrs,
adesrably suited to the civil gevernment of this
dingdom, :and affirming that no presbyter ever laid |
on. haads without.a bishap.. Dec. 8th, a similar
petition from Huntingdonshire was presented,
* See Fuller's Church Hist. b. ix, p. 185.
284 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
and two days after another from Somersetshire,
signed with above. fourteen thousand signatures. .
. There were also petitions from Cheshire, Notting-
hamshire, Devon, Stafford, Kent, North Wales,
the counties of Lancaster, Cornwall; and Here-
ford. . The. Devon petition had eight: thousand
signatures; that from Stafford, .three thousand ;
and those from North Wales, thirty thousand. *
Notwithstanding all efforts to preserve the
church; the bill against the bishops passed, and the
city of London celebrated the event with bells and
bonfires. His Majesty, when strongly importuned
and strongly.urged to give his royal assent to it,
replied, that it was a matter of so great concern,
that therefore he would take time to consider and
advise, and. would ‘let them know his mind in a
convenient time. . But this delay was extremely
. unpleasant to those who could not well attack the
sovereignty, till the bishops’ votes :were abolished.
They therefore sent again the same day to the
king, who was at Windsor, to urge.his compliance
for these reasons—‘ because of the grievances
the subjects suffered by the bishops’ exercise of
temporal jurisdiction, and their making a party in
* Neal’s Hist. of the Puritans, vol. ii, p. 490.— Warner's
Eccles. Hist. of England, vol. ii, p. 551.—Nalson’s Collections,
vol. ii, pp. 726, 727.—Dr. Grey's Exam. of Neal, vol. i, pp.
312, 314.
BILL PASSED. 285
the house of lords—because. of the. great content
it would give by the. happy conjunction of both
houses in their absence—and because the passing
this bill would be a comfortable. pledge. of his
Majesty's gracious.assent to the future. remedies.
of those evils which were to be presented to
him." *.-
Thus was his Majesty persuaded to. pass this
bill, after which he.was not in a situation to deny
them any thing.
There were some of the greatest trust about
his Majesty, who, being “faithful enough to his
service," though weak enough in their judgments,
and ignorant of the. constitution, persuaded. him
to pass this bill, as the only. way to preserve the
church. The king thought upon this subject in a —
far more able manner than his councellors: and,
though it was.a fault which ran through his
government, because he yielded upon many -occa-
sions: his own-understanding, which in general
was superior to that of his ministers; yet, upon
this point, he. was long inflexible: and. had his
Majesty persevered, probably he would have
prevented much of. that confusion, which his .
compliance with this bill let in, like an inundation
* Clarendon's Hist, of the Rebellion, vol. i, p. 427.
286° LIFE OE BISHOP. HALL.
upon. chureh.and state, and. wliichi ended; ini the
ruin of both. Bast, unfeatunatel y; he-could:. refuse
nothiag to the.solicita£iong. o£. the queen; who
being. persuaded. that) ber, owm: preserwation de.
pended..on .his; Majasty’s ‘paasingy éhe;bill, exerted
— all her influence for his assent: $0 that. the-queen
prevailed on his Majesty, that he sent a commis-
sion for enacting, £hia and anether bill them: ready
for the royal assent. The many sad effects, which
the passing this bill, brought upon the chusch and
state, are-too well known, and.are,fully narrated
by our historians. The passing,of this-bill was
* one of the three things which laid -heaviest on
his Majesty ia. the time sof his solitude and: suffer-
ings, as appears by the following passage. in one
. of his prayers: “ Was tt through. ignorance that I
suffered innocant.-bload to be spilt iby a false pre-
tended. gusisee? or that I permitted.a wrong way
of worshap to .be seé:up in: Scatland?. or injured
the bishops in England?” By which . we see,
that.the eajury.dane unto the. bishops .of England
is put into the same scale with his permitting
a wrong. way of worship.in Scotland, and-: the
shedding. of the $inuecent.bloed of the-Earl .of
Strafford." *
By the passing of this bill the king's party was
* Heyliu's Life of Archbishop Laud, p. 493.
REASONS ‘AGAINST THE BISHOP'S VOTES. 287
exceedingly weakened: and,.as they-never aiter-
wards put any confidence: in him that he would
deny the parliament any act whatsoever: that
would be urged with imporéunity, so they partly
withdrew or suffered themsalves. to be. cared
along with the stream.
The house of commons published their reasons
against the bishops’ votes in. parliament, which
were ably answered, by: Bishop Hallin his Trea |
dise entitled :A ‘skort: anmver: to shosevnine argu-
ments, which. are brought. against tho bishops sit-
img in. parliament.’ Afterwards, by order of.a
committee of the house of commons, there:was
published. «m. humble. -agamination.of « printed
abstract ‘ef the: answers.te nine.reasans of the. hause
of commons, against the votes of. bishops in parlia-
ment.” *
Asa: cnnosity, he:nene reasons. of the commons
are heve given, and thei reader tis-.reéerred to
Bishop Halls. short -answer:. to them i in vol; x. of
his Works, .pp.:62--64.
|. Reason:of the house of commons against the
votes of. bishops in parliament: ‘ Because it is:a
very great -hinderanee. te,.the exercise of their
ministerial function.
2. * Because they do vow . and undertake. at
* Lond. printed for.P. Stephens and .C, Metedith, 1641, 4to.
288 . .. «-LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
their ordination, when they enter into holy orders,
that they will give themselves mnolly to that
vocation.
“ Because councils and canons, in several
ages, do forbid them to meddle with secular
affairs.
4. ** Because the twenty-four bishops. have a
dependency upon the archbishops, and because
of their canonical obedience to them. |
5. ** Because they are but for their lives, and
therefore are not fit to have legislative power over
the honours, inheritances, persons, and liberties
of others.
6. * Because of bishops' dependency and
expectancy of translations to places of greater
pront
“The several bishops have of late much
encroached upon the consciences and properties
of the subject; and they and their successors
will be much encouraged still to encroach, and
the subject will be much discouraged from com-
plaining against such encroachments, if twenty-
six of that order be to be judges upon these com-
plaints. The same reason extends to their legis.
lative power, in any bill to pass for the reforma-
tion of their power upon any inconvenience by it.
8. * Because the whole number of them is
interested to maintain the jurisdiction of bishops,
which hath been found so grievous to the three
IMPEACHMENT OF THE FIVE MEMBERS. 289
kingdoms, that Scotland hath utterly abolished
it, and multitudes. in England and Ireland have
‘petitioned against it.
9. ** Because bishops being lords of parliament,
it setteth too great a distance between them and
the rest of their brethren in the ministry, which
occasieneth pride in them, discontent in others,
and disquiet in the church." *
. His Majesty, having been assured that Lord
Kimbolton, and five members of the house of
commons, viz. Denzill Hollis, Sir Arthur Hasle-
rigge, John Pym, John Hamden, and William
Stroud, Esqrs. had invited the Scots into England,
and were now the chief encouragers of those
tumults, which occasioned the exclusion of the
bishops from parliament; that they had aspersed
his. government, were endeavouring to deprive .
him of his royal power, and were conspiring to
levy war against him, resolved to impeach them
of high treason. Accordingly, Jan. 2, 1641-2,
Sir. Edward. Herbert, the Attorney General, by
his Majesty's command, accused the above-men-
tioned persons of high treason; but the members
not being ordered into custody, as his Majesty
expected, the king went himself the following
day into the house with his guard, in order to
seize them. Being apprized of the king's coming,
* Harris's Life of Charles I, p. 382, ed, 1814.
U
390 LIFE OF BISHOP “HALL.
the members had just time enough to make their
escape into the city. While the king was in the
chair, the house was in a terrible panic, the door
and all the avenues ‘being filled with officers ‘and
soldiers. After a little while the king withdrew,
when he found that those members had escaped :
and as soon as his Majesty was gone, they
adjourned till the next day, and then for a week.
. The king proclaimed the accused members trai-
tors; but they were vindicated by the parliament,
as well as protected and entertained by the city
of London, who conducted them, Jan. 11, in
great pomp to Westminster, from whence the
king, with his family, had retired the day before
to Hampton Court. In this situation of affairs,
the king resolved to retire to York, whither he
travelled by easy stages, and never returned to
London, till he was brought thither‘as a crimmal
to execution.
The king's coming to the house of commons m
‘person to demand five of their members impeached
of high treason, was the most unlucky step that
could have been taken at that juncture; and the
indiscretion ef some that attended the king to the
lobby ef the house, was insisted upon as an -
argument that the king was resolved to wse vio-
lence upon tRe parliament, which it is to be ;pre-
sumed was a thing far from his thoughts. It is
said that the persons who advised the. king to this
COMMENCEMENT OF HosTSEATIES. 291
rash ‘attempt, are justly chargeable with dll the
blood that was afterwards spilt dering the “grand
rebellión."
hough endeavours on both tides have not
been wanting to accommodate matters by soft
‘and hedlitig tnethods, yet now, after the above
circumstdfte, scarce any hopes of ‘a couciiation
reamed. When, after several removals froin
place to pface, his Majesty set up his standard at.
Nottirfgharh, there étisited a fatal and bloody war,
which probably was at first not designed by either
side.*
The ‘twelve bishops, confined in the Tower,
petitioned the peers for council, which was granted
‘them: aiid about a fortnight after their comumit-
toent, Jan. 17, 1641--2, they appeared at the bar
of the ‘house of lords, and pleaded ‘not guilty, in
manner and form. 'They presented à petition also,
‘praying for & speedy trial, and that in the mean
time 'they might be admitted te ball. Accord-
‘ingly, the 25th df January was appointed for their
trial’; ‘but their request'of bding admitted to bail
‘was now denied them, and sothey-were remanded
back tó the Tower. It appears that the principal
design of their impeachment, and of proroguing
their trial, was to keep them from the house, till
* Welwood's Memoirs; ‘pp. 68-66.
Ua
292 LIFE OF BISHOP SHALL.
the bill for taking [away their votes was passed,
for. the commons must have been conscious that-it
was as easy to charge them with murder, or adul-
tery, as with high treason.* When the day of
their trial arrived, the Lieutenant of the Tower
brought them again to the bar of the house ; but,
after severe and bitter declamations made against
them, they were told that it was then too late in
the day to proceed in their trial, and that another
day should be fixed, * which day, to this day,"
says Bishop Hall in his “ Hard Measure," .** never
came."
However, after some weeks, as the charge of
high ireason against the bishops could not. be
maintained, the commons drew up another bill,
wherein they declared them **to be delinquents
of a very high nature," and that it should be
enacted that they should lose their spiritual .pro-
motions for life, only there should. be an annual
allowance to each bishop for.his maintenance. .
Feb. 21, 1641--2, it was ordered that a bill
should be drawn up for the forfeiture of the tem-
poral and spiritual estates of these twelve prelates,
and for the imprisonment of their persons during
* Walker's Sufferings of the Clergy, parti, p. 54.
' + The reader is referred to the Bishop's * Hard Measure," for
a more particular account of the circumstances of this mock
trial and unjust imprisonment. ,
THE BISHOPS ADMITTED'TO BAIL. 9293
their lives, and for the disposal of all livings that
might fall within their gifts: but afterwards it was
resolved that the archbishop of York should not
forfeit his temporals, and that he should be allowed
£100. a year out of his ecclesiastical incomes.
The bishop of Durham was to be allowed £800.
a year. The bishop of Ely £100. The bishop of
Norwich £400. : The bishop of Bath and Wells
£100. The bishop of Lichfield and Coventry
£800. The bishop of Gloucester £200. The
bishop of Hereford £500. The bishop of Peter-
borough £100. The bishop of Oxford £100. The
bishop of St. Asaph £500. And the bishop of
Landaff.£200. “This bill was sent up to the
lords, and by them also passed; and there hath
ever since lain," says Bishop Hall, in his ** Hard
Measure" Of how little effect this order proved
‘for the maintenance of these venerable prelates, it
may be guessed from the account Bishop Hall .
gives us of his own case.*
The twelve bishops again, after some weeks,
petitioned the Lords to be admitted to bail, and
have liberty to return to their respective homes.
At the Earl of Essex's motion, the lords admitted
them to bail. Their release so offended the com-
mons, that they expostulated with the lords in
* See “ Hard Measure.”
294 KIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
terms of great indignation, and caused the bishops
to be neoommitted to the Tower, where they,
remained about six weeks longer, till the 5th, of
May, 1642, when, upon their earnest petition,
they were set at liberty, upon giving five thousand
pounds bend.
During their confinement in the Tower, the
bishops: preached in their turn every Lord’s-day
to a large auditory of citizens. One of the sex-
mons, which Bishop Hall preached in the Tower,
March 20th, 1642, is the thirty-sixth sermon in
the fifth volume of his Works, from James iv, &
Draw nigh untd God, and he will drawn nigh to
you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purge
your hearts, ye double-minded.
Bishop. Hall has given us a very lively
portraiture of the placid state of bis mind, his
patience, innocence, and, conscious integrity, net
only in bis “ Letter. from the Tower,” and in
his “ Hard Measure," but also in his treatise
entitled “ Zhe Free Prisoner, or the Comforé of
Restraint,” written by him in the Tower, and
addressed to a certain friend: he considered
this restraint as safety. ‘“ This streng tower,”
says he, “ serves not so much for our prison,
as foy our defence; what honor soever the name
may carry in it. I bless God for these walls,
out of which, I know not where we could for
the time have been safe from the rage of the
LETTER FROM THE TOWER. 295.
mis-inceased raulfitude. Poor seduced souls!
They were taught it was piety to be cruel; and.
were mispersuadéd to hate and condemn us for
that, which should have procured their reverence.
and honour, even that holy station, which we
hold. in God's church ;; and. to curse those of. us.
who had deserved nothing but their thanks and.
prayers, railing on our profession in the streets,
and rejoicing in our supposed ruin. * Father,
fargive them, for they know not what they, did."
Here we were out of the danger of this mis-raised
fury; and had leisure to pray for the quenching
of those. wild fires of contention and. causeless
malice, which, to our great grief, we saw wicked
incendiaries daily to cast amongst God's dear and.
well-minded people. Here we haxe well and:
happily approved, with the blessed Apostle, that
whatever our restraint be, the.word. of. Gad is not
bound. With what liberty, with what zeal, with
what. success, hath that been. preached to ali
comers! Let them say, whether. the Tower had
ever s0 many such guests, or sueh benedictions ;.
soas, if the.place have. rendered. us safe, we have
endeavoured: to. make it. happy. Wherein our:
performances have seemed to confate that, which
Cornelius, bishop of: Rome, long since observed,
* that the mind laden with heavy burdens of:
afflictions, is. not able to do that service, which it.
can do, when it is free and at. ease." Our
296 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
troubles, through God's ‘mercy, made us more
active, and our labours more effectual.” *
' But his * Letter sent from the Tower, to a
private friend, and by him thought fit to be pub-
lished,” indicates in a particular manner the state
of his ‘mind, and his sense of integrity, during his
unjust confinement. This celebrated letter is
here inserted :— m
*'To my much-respected good friend, Mr. H. S.
* WonTHY SIR,
- “ You think it strange, that I should salute you
from hence. How can you choose, when I do
yet still wonder to see myself here? : My inten-
tions and this place are such strangers, that I
cannot enough marvel how they met. |
** But, howsoever, I do in all humility kiss the
rod wherewith I smart; as well knowing whose
hand it is that wields it. To that Infinite Justice,
who can-be innocent? but to my king: and
country never heart was or can be more clear;
and I sball beshrew my haud, if it shall have,
against my thoughts, justly offended either: and
if either say so, I reply not; as having learned
not.to contest with those that can command
legions. | | 00 1
* Bishop Hall's Works, vol. vii, pp. 519, 620.
LETTER FROM THE TOWER. 297
“In the mean time, it is a kind but a cold com-
pliment, that you pity me; an affection well
placed, whére a man deserves to be miserable :
for me, I am not conscious of such merit.
* You tell me in what fair terms I stood, not.
long since, with the world; how large room I
had in the hearts of the best men: but can you tell
me how [I lost it? "Truly, I have, in the presence
of my God, narrowly searched my own bosom.
I have unpartially ransacked this fag-end of my
life, and curiously examined every step of my
ways; and I cannot, by the most exact. scrutiny
of my saddest thoughts, find what it is that I
have done to forfeit that good estimation where-
with you say I was once blessed.
* J can secretly arraign and condemn myself
of infinite transgressions before the tribunal of
heaven. Who, that dwells in a house of clay,
can be pure in his sight that charged his angels
with folly: O God, when I look on the reckon-
ings betwixt thee and my soul, and find my
shameful arrears, I can be most vile in my own
sight, because I have deserved to be so in thine:
yet, even then, in thy inost pure eyes, give me
leave the while not to abdicate my sincerity. -
Thou knowest my heart desires to be right with
. thee, whatever my failings may have been: and
I know what value thou puttest on those ‘sincere
$98 | LIFE OF BISHOP HALE,
desixe& notwithstanding. all the intermixtures of
our. miserable infirmities. These I can penitently
bewail to thee: but, in, the mean time, what have
I done to men, Let them not spare to sham,
me with, the late sinful declinations. of my age;
and fetch klushes, if they can, from a, wrinkled
face.
* Let, my, enemies, (for such I perceive I, have,
and, those are the: surest monitorg) say, what J
have offended; For their bitter irritation, my
Clear. conscience bids me boldly to take up the
challenge of good. Samuel, * Behold, bere Lam!
Witness, against, ge before the Lord, and before
his anginted: whose ox have |. taken? or whose
ass have I taken? or whom, have I defrauded?
whom have. I oppressed? or of whose band have I
received any bribe, to blind mine eyes therewith?
and I will restore it, you.’
* Can they say, that I bore up the reips of
~ government too bard; and exercised my. juris-
diction in a rigorous, and. tyrannical way, insor.
lently lording it over my charge? Malice itself,
perhaps, would, but dare not speak it; or, if it,
should, the attestation of so, grave and numeroug
a clengy would choke such impudence. Let
them witness, whether they were not still, enter
tained by me with an equal return of reverence,
ag.if they had heen all bishops with me, or I, only
a presbyter with them; according to the old rule
LETTER, FROM THE TOWER. 409.
of Egbert, archbishop, o£ York, stra domum
episcopus collegam se presbyterorum. esse cognoscaf.
Let them, say, whether ayght here looked like.
despotical ; or sounded rather of, imperious, com;.
mands, than of brotherly complying: whether,
I have nof. rather, from some beholders, under-
gone the censure. of a too humble. remissness; ag.
perhaps, stooping too, low beneath, the.eminence
of; episcopal dignity: whether I have no, suf.
fered as much ip some opinions, for the winning
milduegs of my administration, as some others
for 3. rough severiky.. |
** Can. they say, for this agpersion is likewise
common, that, I barred. the free course of religious
exercises, by the suppression, ef painful and
peaceable preachers? If shame will suffer apy
map. to object it, let me challenge. him, to, instance
but, in one name. Nay, the contrary is. so
famously known in. the western, parts, that every
mouth wil herein justify me. What free admis;
sion and encouragement have I always given to
all the sons of peace that came with God's
message in their mouths! What missuggestions
have I waved! What blows have J borne off
in the behalf of some of them, from some gain-
sayers? How haxe I often, and publicly pro-
fessed, that, as well might we complain of tog
many stars ip the sky, as too many orthodox
preachers in the church ?
300 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
* Can they complain, that I fretted the necks of
my clergy with the uneasy yoke of new. and
illegal impositions! | Let them, whom I have
thus hurt, blazon my unjust severity, and write
their wrongs in marble: . but if, disliking all novel |
devices, I have held close to those ancient rules
which limited the audience of our godly prede-
cessors; if I have grated upon no man’s conscience
by the pressure, no not by the tender, of the late
oath, or any unprescribed ceremony; if I have
freely, in the Committee appointed by the most
honourable house of peers, declared my open
dislike in all innovations, both in doctrine and
rites; why doth my innocence suffer?
*« Can they challenge me as a close and back-.
stair friend to Popery or Arminianism, who have,
in so many pulpits and so many presses, cried
down both? Surely, the very paper, that I have
. Spent in the refutation of both these, is enough
. to stop more mouths than can be guilty of this
calumny.
* Can they check me with a lazy silence in my
place? with infrequence of preaching? Let the
‘populous auditories, where I have lived, witness,
whether, having furnished all the churches near
me with able preachers, I took not all oppor-
tunities of supplying such courses, as I could get,
in my cathedral; and, when my tongue was silent,
let the world say whether my hand were idle.
LETTER FROM THE TOWER. 2301
** Lastly, since no man can offer to upbraid me
with too much pomp, which is wont to be the
common eye-sore of our envied profession, can
any man pretend to a ground of taxing me, as I
perceive one of late hath most unjustly done, of
too much worldliness? Surely, of all the vices
forbidden.in the decalogue, there is no one, which
my heart, on due examination, can less fasten on
me, than this. He, that made it, knows that he
hath put into it a true disregard (save only for
necessary use) of the world; and of all that it
can boast:of; .whether for profit, pleasure, or
glory. No, no: I know the world too well to
dote on.it. . While I am in it, how can 1 but use
it? but I never-care, never yield to enjoy it.
It were too great a shame for a philosopher, a
christian, a divine, a bishop, to have his thoughts
grovelling here upon earth: for mine, they scorn
the employment; and look upon all these sublu-
nary distractions, as upon this man's false censure,
with no other eyes than contempt.
* And now, Sir, since I cannot, how secretly
faulty: soever, guess at my own public exorbi-
tances, I beseech you, where you hear my name
traduced, learn:of mine accusers, whose lyncean
eyes would seem to see further into me than my
own, what singular offence I have committed.
‘If, perhaps, my-calling be my crime; it is no
other than the most holy fathers of the church in
S02 ‘LIFE OF BI5HOPb HALL.
the ‘primitive and succéeding ‘ages, ‘ever Sitrce the
apostles, many of them also blessed martyrs,
have been guilty of: it is no other ‘than ‘all the
holy düctots of the "church in aM generations
‘ever ‘since ‘hive ‘celebrated, ds thost réverend,
‘sacred, inviolable: it is tio ofer ‘thn all the
‘whole christian world, extepting ‘one small
‘haridful of our neighboürs, whose condition denied
thém the opportunity of this government, is
‘Khown to ‘enjoy, without contradiction. How
‘safe is it erring in such company !
* Tf my offence be in my pen, which'hath, as it
‘could, undertaken the defetice of that apostolical
institution, though ‘with all modesty and fair
respects ‘tb the churches differing from us, 1
. ‘cannot deprecate a truths and.such I know ‘this
“to be: which is since so cleared by better hands,
that I well hope the ‘better informed world can-
‘pdt ‘but sit down convinced. Neither doubt J,
but that, as metals receive the more lastre with
often rubbing, ‘this trüth, the more agitation it
"andérgoes, shall appear every day more glorious.
Only, may the good Spirit of the Almighty
‘speedily dispel all ‘those düsky prejudices Fre
the minds of men, which may hinder them from
‘disttrning‘so clear’ light.
** Shortly, then, knowing nothing by inyself,
Wifereby T ‘Have ‘deserved to sliétáte ahy good.
RELEASE. — 303
heart from rne, V shall resolve to rest securely upon
the acquitting testimiory of a good conscience,
and the secret ‘approbation of my gracious God;
who shall one day cause mine imocence to break
‘forth as the morning light, and shall give nie
beauty for bonds; and, fora light and monrentary
affliction, &n eternal weight of glory.
“ To shut up-all, and to surcease your trouble, -
I write not this as one that would pump for favor
and reputation ‘from ‘the disaffected multitude ;
for I charge you, that what ‘passes privately
‘betwixt us tay ot fall under common eyes:
but ‘only with ‘this desire and ‘intention, to give
you true gromds, where you shall hear my ame
mentioned with a caugeless offence, to yield me
‘a just aud ‘charitable ‘vindication. ‘Go you on
still to do the office of a true friend, yea, the duty
‘of.a just man, in speaking in the ‘cause of the
dumb, in righting the innocent, in tectifying the
‘misguided ; and, lastly, the service of 'a faithful
and christian ‘patriot, in helping ‘the times with
the best aid of your prayers; which is daily the
task of |
* Your much devoted
and thankful frieud,
From the Tower, ' “JOS. NORVIC.”
Jan. 24, 1641-2.
304 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
As soon as Bishop Hall was released from the -.
Tower, he immediately withdrew to Norwich, to . '
which' See he was translated in November, 1641.
He. was not released from the Tower till May 5,
1642, in'a few days after he came for the first
time to his new diocese ;. and he tells us that he
was at first received with much. greater respect
than might have been expected in such trouble-
some times. The day after his arrival in Nor-
wich, he preached in the Cathedral “ to a
numerous and attentive people," and he ** was
not sparing of his pains in this way," till he was
forbidden by men, and at last disabled by God."
An account of his sufferings and deprivations
are given in a subsequent part of this. volume,
together with the treatise entitled his * Harp
MEASURE," containing a history of his own suf-
ferings, written by himself; a Treatise which it is
impossible to read without a degree of honest
indignation at the meanness, as well as the bar-
barity, of his merciless persecutors.
CHAPTER VIII.
AFTER the king had retired to York, as it has
been before mentioned, every thing tended to an
open rupture between his Majesty and the parlia-
ment, since the legislature was divided, and the
constitution broken. Atthis time a long paper
war (the prelude to one of a far more fatal
consequence) ensued, between the king and
parliament: both sides were loading each other
with abundance of reproaches and bitter lan-
guage, and neither was now thinking about an
accommodation.
In order to encourage the factious and schis-
matical, who were imagining that the reformation
was carried on too slowly, the parliament pub-
lished a declaration, ** that they intended a due
and necessary reformation of the government
and liturgy of the church, and. to take away
nothing in the one or other, but what should be
evil and justly offensive, or at least unnecessary
and burdensome; and would speedily have con-
sultation with godly and learned divines: but
x
306 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
because that would never of itself attain the end,
they would use their utmost endeavours to
establish learned and preaching ministers with
a good and sufficient maintenance through the
kingdom.”
This declaration, which was intended to en-
courage their friends who were anxious about
their intended reformation of the church, as well
as to allay the fears of others, whose eyes were
beginning to open and to see the destraction
threatened to church and state, was printed
and dispersed in.every market-town in the king-
dom. June 2, 1642, the parliament, by a com-
mittee, presented the king with the sum of all
their desires for the reformation and safety. of
church and state, in nineteen propositions. ‘Those
relative to the church. were the following :—
* 'That his Majesty would be pleased to.consent,
that such a reformation be made of the :church
government.and liturey, as both houses of par-
liament.shall advise, wherein they intend to have
consultation. with divines, according to the decla-
ration above; and that his Majesty will conttibute
his best assistance for the raising a sufficient
maintenance for preaching. ministers through the
kingdom; and will give.consent. to the laws for
the taking away. innovations, superstition, and
pluralities, and against.scandalous ministers.”
In answer to.these propositions, his Majesty
CIVIL WAR. 307
referred them to. what he has. said in his answer
fo their petition and r«monstrance in his first
declaration; and to his message sent on passing
the bill against the bishops’ votes: But as for
the bills against superstitions, innovations, &c.
. his Majesty declared he could say nothing to
them till he saw them.*
It was now manifest that the controversy
between the king and parliament, which had been
hitherto carried on with the pen, must be decided
with the sword. Both sides collected as much
Strength as possible, and the horrible scene of
civil war began, and the land was deluged with
blood. The writer of this volume refers his
courteous readers to Lord Clarendon's History
ef the Grand Rebellion, and other historians, for
a copieus and detailed account of. that scene of
confusion, of blood-shedding, and miseries, which
now ensued in consequence of the unhappy dif-
.ferences between the king aud parliament. "Truly
it was ‘a scene as‘ horrible and shocking to
humanity, as it was scandalous, cruel, and dis-
lionourable to the English nation. Those times
will be an indelible blot on the page of English
history, and a disgrace to our country. But the
troubles of those times, may, however, be viewed
* Warner's Eccles. Hist. of England, vol. ii, p. 562.
X 2
308 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
as wisely ordered by Providence, as a memorable
lesson and warning to posterity, to guard against
factious parties in religion and polttics. "The
result of those troubles and confusion brought
then upon the church and state, teaches us how
delusive and destructive must have been the
principles of those patriots and. puritans, who
were the authors and promoters of those con-
vulsions. | |
If any ways or means could have been adopted
in time to restore a mutual confidence between
the king and the parliament, the remaining
differences in the church might easily have been
reconciled and accommodated. But as the
flames of the civil war spread wider and grew
fiercer, the wounds of ,the church were also
aggravated and enlarged. And when the par-
hament called in the Scots to their assistance,
and the solemn league and covenant was sub-
scribed, these wounds became incurable. The
state of the controversy was then entirely changed,
and the mask was stript off. The puritans no
longer sought for a reformation of the hierarchy,
and for liberty of conscience, but for the same
spiritual power which had, been exercised by
the bishops, and to introduce the presbyterian
government in its full extent, as the established
religion of England. "To this purpose a bill was
passed by the Commons, for the utter abolition
ASSEMBLY OF DIVINES. 309
and extirpation of episcopacy. And it was
determined by them, that no overtures for peace
should be made to the king till this bill was
passed in the house: of lords, where it would
never otherwise have been submitted to.
From the year 1642 till the end of the civil
war, the established form of government in the
church was interrupted. So the ancient hier-
archy of England was suspended, and lay pros-
trate for about eighteen years: but it was never
legally dissolved, for the king would not, and did
not give his royal assent.
The parliament now having usurped the
sovereignty, by still requiring new concessions,
and a further abridgment of the regal power,
prevented the king from all possibility of an —
accommodation. Besides the nineteen propo-
sitions already mentioned, ‘they requested the
king in express terms to abolish episcopacy
entirely, and that all ecclesiastical disputes should
be decided by an assembly of divines: but the
king would not, by any means, assent to such
measures. The parliament therefore passed an
ordinance in June, 1643, “for the calling an
assembly of learned and godly divines, and others,
to settle the government and liturgy of the church
of England, &c."
Before this assembly met, the king issued a
proclamation to forbid their meeting, declaring
310 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
that no acts done by them ought to be received
by. his subjects, and threatening to proceed
against them with the utmost severity of the law.
Sixty-nine,. however, out of. one hundred and
twenty, of which the assembly was to consist,
assembled on the day appointed, July 1, 1643,
in King Henry Vlith's chapel, according to
their summons. Few of the episcopal divines
appeared, and those. who did, withdrew in disgust.
Lord Clarendon says, tbat out of the one bundred
and twenty, there were not above twenty who
were not declared and avowed enemies.to the
doctrine and discipline of the Church of England;
some of them infamous in their lives and conver-
sations, and most of them of very mean parts
in learning, if not of scandalous ignorance, and
of no other reputation than of malice to the
church of England."* Perhaps the noble his-
torian is rather too severe here; as certainly
many of the divines of that assembly were
men of exemplary piety and devotion, who had
a zeal for the. glory of God, and the purity
of the christian faith and . practice. T All the
episcopal divines soon left this assembly: some
disdained to sit at all with them, as Dr. Brawn-
rigge, bishop. of Exeter, Dr. Presta, bishop
* Hist. of the Rebellion, vol. i, p. 680.
+ See a full list of the members of this Assembly, à in Neal’s
Hist. of the Puritans, vol. iii, p. 50, 51.
SOLEMN LEAGUE AND COVENANT. 3if
of Bristol, Dr. Hacket; Dr. Morley, . Dr. Saun-
derson, Dr. Hammond, Dr. Holdsworth, &c.—
Archbishop Usher condescended to appear for a
little while in the assembly: they did justice to
that.most learned prelate in. expelling him from
the assembly for his attending the king at Oxford,
and refusing to return ; by so doing they honored
him and scandalized themselves.— Dr. Featley
continued to attend, .till he. was imprisoned. by:
the parliament on account of.his attachment to
episcopacy, and for holding & correspondence
with Dr. Usher.
The parliament finding themselves unable to
contend with the royal forces, had :solicited, as
it was before observed, the assistance of the
Scots. Butthey were not disposed to form any
alliance, except .parliament would engage to
establish the presbyterian form of government
in the. church of England. The English Com-
missioners agreed to these terms, and accordingly
a solemn league and covenant * was drawn up,
agreed to by the convention of the states, and
the general assembly of the church of Scotland ;
aid, being approved of by the Westminster
assembly, it was sworn to, and subscribed by
both houses of parliament, and by the assembly,
* See this Covenant at large in Neal's Hist, of the Puritans,
vol. iii, pp. 66-70, and the mode of taking it.
312 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
with great solemnity; Monday, Sept. 25, 1643, in
the church of St. Margaret's, Westminster.*
This ** solemn league and covenant," besides
mutual defence against all opponents, bound the
subscribers to endeavour the extirpation of popery
and prelacy, superstition, heresy, schism, and
profaneness—to maintain the rights and privi-
leges of parliament, together with the king's
authority—and to discover and bring to justice all
incendiaries and malignants.
It was.ordered to be taken by all persons above
eighteen years of age; and the assembly were com-
manded to draw up an exhortation to persuade
the people to it.t Orders also were issued by
the Commons to disperse the covenant through-
out the whole kingdom ; and the names of those
who refused it, were to be returned to the house.
As this covenant contained obligations. upor
conscience,” which honest persons might scruple
as contrary to the laws, so the imposing of it as
a test was very oppressive:—it was truly a great
* Dr. Walker describes the proceedings at taking this cove-
nant thus—''Two or three divines successively ** went up”
into the pulpit to pray: others to make orations upon the work
of the day, where they uttered such extravagant things in com-
mendation of the covenant, as cannot easily be imagined ; Mr.
Henderson concluding tlie solemnity with as extravagant com-
mendations of what they had done."
Sufferings of the Clergy, parti, p.34.
. + See the Exhortation in Neal's Hist. of the Puritans, vol. iii,
p. 71.
DISSOLUTION OF THE HIERARCHY. 313
abuse of that sovereign power, which SO was much
complained of in the king.
His Majesty issued a proclamation to forbid
the taking of this covenant, but it was of no .
effect. However, many and heavy complaints
were made of the grievances and oppression
which this fest inflicted upon the clergy through-
out the kingdom. It proved a weapon in the
hands of the Commons, enabling them with more
ease and certainty to discover malignant or dis-
affected ministers—the modest appellation given
now to all the episcopal and loyal clergy. When
this covenant was tendered, and any of the clergy
refused it, they were upon this turned out of their
livings.
From the time of taking this covenant, we may
date the dissolution of the hierarchy ; though as
yet it was.not abolished by an ordinance of
parliament. . There were now no ecclesiastical
courts, no visitations, no regard to the canons,
ceremonies, nor even to the liturgy itself.
The assembly of divines now,did all. the
business of the church: the parishes chose their
own ministers, the assembly examined and ap-
proved them, and the parliament confirmed them
in their livings. But in order to secure a suc-
cession of ministers trained up in the principles
which the parliament had adopted, the earl of
914 LIRE QF BISHOP HALL.
Manchester * was .orderad.to purify the university
of Cambridge, the head quarters of the. forces
under his command. Accordingly, the earl
requested the attendance of the masters, fellows,
and scholars, on a certain day, and the covenant
was tendered to all, who were suspected of
disaffection to-the parliament, that is, to all those
who had any regard to the ancient constitution
in church and. state. , A great. number of graduates
were degspoiled of their livelihood, and banished
the university, merely for refusing the solemn
league and.cqvenant.
It is difficult to compute the number of clergy-
men who suffered severely, and lost their livings
by order of parliament during the civil war. But
whether more or fewer suffered, the arbitrary
power was the same; and the not executing it,
might be for want of opportunity, in ;many
instances, or because they could not. According
to the best computation, the number of suffering
clergy could not be less than TWo THOUSAND,
whom the parliament ejected out of their livings,
for their obedience to the laws.and constitution of
their country. A fifth part.of the revenues of these
ejected clergy was reserved for the maintenance
'* The Earl of Manchester, in the life-time of his father, was :
styled Lord Kimbolton, and was one of the members impeached
by the king.
SUFFERINGS OF THE CLERGY. 315
of their families, which, m such calamitous .and
tumultuous time, was a charitable act; bet it
does not appear that dme end proper. attention
was observed that such destitute families should
be paid this pittance of fifths..
It is‘ truly deplorable that many pious, worthy,
and learned bishops:and clergymen, who with-
drew from the world, and were desirous to live
peaceably, suffered dreadfully in these times—
their estates and livings were :sequestered, their
houses and.goads. ransacked ‘dnd. plundered by
disorderly soldiers, and. they.:themselves: and
families reduced to live. upon the: fifths, or:a smal
pension from parliament, because:they continued
firm in their attachment to the constitution .of
church andstate,:and would not take the covenant,
or sanction the new directory * for publie wor.
ship, which was introduced after abolishing our
venerable ‘liturgy. Among these sufferers, the.
most.reverend Archbishop Usher, Bishop Morton,
Bishop ‘Hall, and many others, may be reckoned
as some of the chief. To. take away the whole
property of these divines, only for obedience to.
the laws of their country, ‘and reduce them-to a:
fifth, and even this at the mercy of sequestrators,
was extremely rigorous, cruel, and oppressive.T
* See the New Directory, in Neal's Hist. of the Puritans,
vol. v, p. 62, Appendix.
t See Neal's Hist. of the Puritans, vol. iii, p. $7.
316 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
A great and barbarous devastation was now
made of all the decorations, ornaments, and
painted windows in cathedrals and churches.
The monuments of the dead were violated and
mutilated, the organs were taken down and de-
molished, and the truly venerable remains of
antiquity were damaged and destroyed. In
short, every outrage which ignorance, fanatic rage,
and enthusiasm could inspire, was committed on
the churches.— The account of the reformation
of Norwich cathedral by these Goths and Vandals,
as given.us by Bishop Hall in his Hard Measure,
is a fair specimen of the rude violence and
indiscriminate devastations committed on other
cathedrals and churches: it gives us the character
of these Gothic reformers, and shews us the
spirit by which they were actuated.* .
Though the majority of the commons had at
first agreed to reduce episcopacy to the standard
of the first or second century, yet they had not
determined to lay aside the name and function of a
bishop, and to establish a presbyterian government,
till application was made to the Scots for assistance
against the king.. As it was highly probable that
the major part had no intention at first to extir-
pate episcopacy, so there can be.no doubt but
* Dr. Grey, in his Examination of Neal, gives several instances
of those barbarities committed on the cathedrals and churches.
ORIGIN OF SECTS. 317
that some few puritanical members fully intended
it, though they industriously concealed their
intention till an opportunity of carrying their
design into execution should offer itself.
Parliament was convinced that the war against
the king could not be successfully carried on
without the aid of the Scots: therefore, in order
to obtain this aid, they complied to receive the
presbyterian form of church government, and the
assembly of. divines were ordered to agree upon
such a form of discipline as | would preserve an
union with the kirk.
The puritans had now the direction of every
thing in the church, and actually had demolished
the hierarchy before they had agreed what sort of
building to erect in its room. When therefore the
ancient order of worship and discipline observed
in the Anglican church was extirpated, the several
parties or sects among the puritans, which had
laid before concealed under that general name,
began to shew themselves; and each of them.
claimed a share in laying the foundation stone of
the new model. Many of the puritan divines were
rigid Calvinists, and in their sermons and writings
inculcated those dogmas by which they eventually
opened a wide door for licentiousness and anéz-_
nomeanism; so that many took upon them to
justify the hidden works of darkness and dis-
honesty. The political principles of many of
318 LIFE OF BISHOP'/HALL.
these men’ were ndt less absurd; nor less destruc-
tive of. order:and good’ gevernment, than those
they: were. actuated by in religton.: |:
From the'time it was ‘agreedi that ‘the: presby-
terian.. model should: be adopted, the name of
peritans:is‘to, be'sunk ; and they were afterwards
distinguished under the denomination of Presby-
terians; Brastians, and Independents, who all had
their own different views.
The Presbyterians had taken. their plan from
Scotland, and advanced. it. into jus divinum, or
a divine institution, derived expressly from Christ
and his apostles; but this met with ag much
epposition from the other sectaries as episcopacy
itself. , ZEE ZEE
Tbe Erastians believed church government to
be a creature of the state, would not: admit the
pastoral office to be anything more than persua-
sive; and. denied any spiritual jurisdiction or
coercive power over the conscience, or that
any one form of church government was pre-
scribed in scripture as a rule for future ages. For
this. opinion they had the authority of several of
our first reformers. *
* Cranmer, Redmayne, Cox, &c. The eminenily-learned Dr,
Lightfoot was a principal advocate of this scheme in the Assem-
bly of Divines.— Erastians were so called from Erastus, a
German physician and divine of the 16th century.
INDEPENDENTS. 319
The Independents formed another party. The
principles upon which they founded their church
government, were confined to scripture precedent,
without any regard to ancieat practice, or 'modern
innovations; they did not tie themselves to any
resolutions, without room for alteration upon any
further views and enquiry. On these principles
" they built a system, ** that every particular con-
gregation of oliristians'has at entire and complete
jurisdiction over its members, to be exercised by
the elders thereof" within: itself. . They did not,
however, claim such an entire independeucy: as
that an offending church is not ‘to submit to an
open examitiation by other:neighbouring churches:
they -practised no^'chureh: censures but admo-
nition; -and upon obstinate offenders, excommu-
nication. They prófessed' an agreement in: doc-
trine with the articles of the church of England;
atid their officers or rulers in the ‘church: were
pastors, teachers, and elders with deacons.
Though’ they did not approve of a prescribed
form of worship,. yet they thought public prayers
should be framed by the meditation and study
of :their ministers; and they offered up public
prayers for kings and all that were in authority,
read. the scriptures in their assemblies, adminis-
tered the sacraments, sung. psalms,-and made a
collection for the poor every sunday. It has
been thought proper here to give this particular
320 LIFE OF. BISHOP HALL.
account of this sect, as most of our historians did-
not understand their religious nor political princi-
ples, and so have confounded them with the
Anabaptists, who about this time appeared in
England, who were: republican in their political.
principles, and despised learning and ordination
in their teachers. * : |
It was certainly a grand mistake of these
reformers to destroy one building before they had
agreed upon another. But so it was that the
ancient and venerable order of worship and dis.
cipline in the church of England was set aside
above a year before any other form was appointed.
During this n£er-regnum in the church, sects,
parties, and heresies sprung up like mushrooms,
which grew so luxuriant and strong, that after-
wards it was not possible to destroy them. Such
an oversight in persons, who pretended to possess
so much light, and to have so pious a care of the |
church, is rather to be wondered at. When all
the bounds of order in church and state were
thrown down; when the hedges of God’s vineyard
were broken down, the natural consequence was,
that the wild boar of the forest should root it up.
Every man now, as he was prompted by the
warmth of his temper, excited by emulation or
* Neal's Hist. of the Puritans, vol. iii, pp. 130-135. — War-
ners’ Eccles. Hist. of England, vol. ii, pp. 562, 563.
‘ FANATICISM. 321
vanity, or supported by hypocrisy, endeavoured.
to distinguish himself beyond his’ fellows, and
to arrive at a superior pitch of fanaticism; the
soldier, the merchant, the mechanic, indulging
the fervour of an holy zeal, and guided by the
influence of the Spirit, as he pretended, gave him-
self up to an inward and superior direction, and
was, in a manner, consecrated by an immediate
intercourse: with heaven. * Bishop Hall, about
two years before this time, when a prisoner in the
Tower, accounted it no small benefit that he was
then placed, where, says he, ** I hear no invectives,
no false doctrines, no sermocinations of ironmon-
gers, feltmakers, cobblers, broom men, grooms,
or any other of those inspired ignorants.t And
in his sermon intitled * T'he Mourner in Sion,"
he gives a description of the deplorable state of
religion and morality during those years of con-
fusion; ** one beats the keys into the sword, or
hangs them at: the magistrate's girdle; so as
he suspends religion upon the mere will and
pleasure of sovereignty. One allows plurality
or community of wives: another allows a man to
divorce that wife he hath, upon slight occasions,
and to take another. One is a hunter, another
is a seeker, a third is a shaker. One dares
* Warner's Eccles. Hist. of England, vol. ii, p. 564,
t Bishop Hall’s Works, vol. vii, p. 518.
Y
322 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
question, yea, disparages the sacred scriptures
of God; another denies the soul's immortality ;
a third, the body’s resurrection. One spits his
poison upon the blessed Trinity; another blas-
phemes the Lord Jesus, and opposes the eternity
of his Godhead. One is altogether for inspira-
tions, professing himself above the sphere of all:
ordinances, yea, ‘above the blood of Christ him-
self. Another teaches, that the more villany he
can commit, the more holy he is; that only confi-
dence in sinning is perfection of sanctity; that
there is no hell but remorse. To put an end to
this list of blasphemies, the very mention whereof
is enough to distemper my tongue and your ears;
One miscreant dares give himself out for God
Almighty; another, for the Holy Ghost; another,
for the Lord Christ; another, (a vile adulterous
strumpet) for the Virgin Mary.” *
The assembly of divines having given theit
advice to the parliament relative to previding a
succession of ministers, an ordinance for that
purpose was therefore passed, October, 1644.
Ten members of the assembly, and thirteen pres-
byters of the city of London, were appointed to
examine, and ordain by imposition of hands, all
candidates thought qualified te be admitted into
the ministry.
* Works, vol. v, p. 668.
THE DIRECTORY, $23
The assembly proceeded in the next place
about a form of public worship. The liturgy
being abolished about a year before, at length, in
January, 1644--5, a Directory for. public worship
was published, sanctioned by an ordinance of
parliament, ‘This ordinance repealed the acts of
King Edward VI, and Queen Elizabeth, by which
the liturgy had been established, and prohibited
the use of itin every church or chapel in England
and Wales. So the Directory continued till the
restoration of Charles II, when our scriptural
liturgy was‘restored, the ordinance for its aboli-
tion having never obtained the royal assent.
It was a considerable time before this great
revolution in. the form of public worship took
place over the kingdom. In some places the
churchwardens could not or would not procure a
Directory: in others they despised it and con-
tinued the liturgy. Some would read no form;
and others would use one qf their own. In order
to establish the Directory, the parliament called
in all the Common Prayer Books, and imposed a
fine upoa such ministers as should read any other
form than that contained in the Directory. The
use of. the liturgy in any private place or family
was also prohibited, under the penalty of £5. for
the first offence, £10. for the second, and for-the
third, a. year’s imprisonment, Such ministers as
would not observe the Directory, were to forfeit
| Y2
* 924 LIFE. OF: BISHOP: HALL,
forty shillings; and those who wrote, preached,
or printed any thing in derogation of it, were to
forfeit not less than £5. and not more than £50.
to the use of the. poor.
These were the primary acts of presbyterian uni-
formity, equal to any severities or oppressions.com-
plained of under the government of Charles I. and
of his royal predecessor: for, if the parliament had
a right to abrogate the use of the liturgy in churches
and chapels, which most certainly they had not,
where .was the liberty of conscience, which they
made so much noise about, when they prohibited
the liturgy to closets and private families? When
the presbyterians were going on to press the use
of the Directory over the kingdom, his Majesty
published a proclamation, requiring the Book of
Common Prayer to be observed and used in all
churches and chapels, and that the Durectory
should not be admitted or observed. His Majesty
‘also issued warrants, under his own hand,.to the
heads of the university of Oxford, commanding
them to read divine service as usual, and assuring
the peers then at Oxford, ‘‘ that he was still
determined to live and die for the privileges : of
his crown, for his friends, and for church govern-
ment.” *
Here it may be proper to give a brief account of
| *' Warner's Eccles. Hist. of England, vol. ii, pp. 064, 565.
DEATH OF LAUD. 325.
the sad catastrophe of Archbishop Laud, who.
had been imprisoned in the Tower nearly four.
years, on an impeachment of high treason. The
trial of this famous prelate was pending five
months, upon the general charge that he endea-
voured to subvert the constitution, the protestant.
religion, and the rights of parliament. His Grace
defended himself undauntedly and fully for above
twenty days with much art, vivacity, oratory, and:
firmness; and, considering the animosity and
malignancy of his adversaries, with much more
patience and discretion than could have been
expected from a man of his warm and imperious.
temper. The lords acquitted him of high treason,
and so deferred giving judgment. "The commons
upon this, had recourse to their old expedient of
procuring petitions from the city of London, pray-
ing for ‘speedy justice ; in other words, menacing
and terrifying the two houses into their measures.
But lest this should not prevail, the commons
changed their attack into a bill of attainder,
against which Dr. Laud spoke at their bar for
several hours. The lords consented to this bill;
though his Grace produced a pardon from his
Majesty under the great seal.: They pretended
that the: king could not pardon a judgment: of
parliament, when the nation was in a state of war.
The commons with difficulty were prevailed upon
that the sentence of hanging should be changed
320 LIFE OF BISHOP MALL.
into belieading; which circumstance, as the pri-
soner was a bishop, a privy counsellor, and the
first peer of the realm, shews the rancour and
inveteracy with which he was persecuted even to
death. His Grace was beheaded on Tower-hill,
Jan. 10, 1644--5. _ |
Our historians in general speak -of this famous
person with great partiality, either in his favour or
dispraise. He was certainly neither the satnt
which some have described him, nor the devil
which others have painted him. With openness
and sincerity there was joined an ungovernable
heat and impetuosity of temper, which often drove
him off his guard, and betrayed him into indiscre-
tions, which afforded.a handle against him. As
he possessed such a natural temper, it was a mis-
fortune to him to be placed in the high rank of a
Metropolitan and Prime Minister. .. On account
of his high principles in church and state, he was
no friend to the constitution of his country, and
so he made many to be his implacable enemies.
Though his Grace was a learned man, yet he was
more a man of business than of letters. Lord
Clarendon allows that he retained too keen a
memory of those who had ill used him ; and that
there was something very boisterous and turbulent
in his disposition.* Let his adversaries say what
* History of the Rebellion, vol. i, p. 91.
CHARACTER OF LAUD. 397
they will, he was undoubtedly a sincere and firm
protestant, and had no inclination to become a
papist. However, if he was the person to
whom Bishop Hall addressed the fifth Epistle of
the third Decade, (Works, vol. vii, p. 184.) his
. religious notions seem to have been once very
unsettled. As his high and immoderate zeal for
the church of England made him a great enemy
to all the sectaries, so in order to remove himself
as far as he could from these, he countenanced
and introduced some ceremonies, which too much
resembled those im the church of Rome; and
which he pressed with as much vigour as if they
were essentials of religion. This was his very
great foible. From his diary he seems also to
have been in some respects very superstitious.
His virtue consisted perhaps more in the severity
of his manners, and an abstinence from pleasure,
than in any real affections of benevolence or a
true goodness of heart. Nothing could equal his
resolution, but his zeal for the king-and the
hierarchy: and in obeying the impulse of that
zeal, he trusted entirely to his good intentions,
without any regard to prudence or politeness ;
that is, he took no care to make these intentions,
appear in their best colours, nor paid any defer-
ence to the sentiments of those around him, but
rested satisfied in his own integrity, He was
extremely impatient of contradiction, even in the
328 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
council; nor could he debate any momentous
argument with the patience and temper becoming
his character. He was a great benefactor to St.
John’s college, Oxon. where he was educated:
he enriched it with a variety of valuable MSS. in
Hebrew, Syriac, Chaldaic, Egyptian, Athiopian, '
Armenian, Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Greek,
Latin, Italian, French, Russian, Chinese, Japanese,
Saxon, English, Irish. These MSS. were pur-
chased ata prodigious expence. He gave, besides,
£500. in money to his college. He founded an
Arabic Lecture in the university of Oxford;
settled the impropriation of Cuddesden on the
see of Oxford; annexed commendams to several
other bishoprics ; obtained the advowson of the
living of St. Laurence in Reading, for St. John's
college, Oxon.; procured a charter for Reading,
his native place, and founded and endowed an
hospital in that town with £200. a year. Oxford
also owed to his influence a large charter, con-
firming its ancient, and investing it with new privi-
leges. He expended large sums in the repairs
and rebuilding of St. Paul's cathedral, and left
several other legacies. It is but justice to his
memory to record these acts of munificence and
public utility. But with all his virtues and accom-
plishments which his most partial friends have
attributed to him, it must be allowed that he was
very unfit for either of the stations which he filled
UXBRIDGE TREATY.. | 3929-
in church and state, especially in such turbulent.
times, and-under such a monarch as Charles I. *
About the latter end of January,.1644:5, a.
treaty of peace between the king and parliament :
was entered upon at Uxbridge by commissioners.
The parliament commissioners .proposed, with
respect to.religion, ‘‘that a bill should be passed.
for abolishing episcopacy—for confirming the
ordinance for calling the assembly of divines
—that the Directory and the presbyterian govern- .
ment be confirmed—that his Majesty shall take.
the solemn league-and covenant—and that .an act
should be passed to enjoin.it to be taken by all.
subjects in the three kingdoms."T After many
disputes and much time spent, his Majesty's com-
missioners.consented to these particulars—* that.
the penal laws enjoining ceremonies shall be
suspended, and every body left to their own
freedom—that the bishops shall exercise no .act
of jurisdiction or ordination, without the consent
of a council of presbyters, to.be chosen out of the
diocese—that the bishop sball constantly reside
in his diocese, except when required to attend his
Majesty on any occasion, and if not hindered by
* Warner's Eccles. Hist, of England, vol. ii, pp. 565—567.
Goadby's Brit, Biog. vol. iv, p. 289.
T Dugdale's View of the Troubles in England, p. 766. .
330 LIFE OF ‘BISH@P: HALL.
sickness, preach every Sunday—that great care
shall be taken in conferring holy orders: about
the sufficiency and other qualifications of the
candidates—that a competent maintenance shall
be provided by act of parliament for vicarages
belonging to bishops, deans and chapters, out of
the impropriations— that no man for the future
shall have two benefices with cure of souls—that
an hundred thousand pounds shall be raised out
of the lands belonging to bishops, deans, and
chapters, towards settling the public peace—and
that visitations, fees of ecclesiastical courts, and
abuses in spiritual jurisdiction, shall be regulated
by: parliament.” But these great concessions at
this time from his Majesty made no impression;
and the parliament commissioners having no
liberty to relax a tittle from their demands, the
treaty came to nothing. | |
Before the parliament and the assembly of
divines had made up their minds about adopting
the presbyterian mode of church government,
Bishop Hall tendered “a Modest Offer of some
Considerations to the Learned Prolocutor, and to
the rest of the Assembly of Divines met at West-
minster," * in which the good bishop shewed him-
* Dr.William Twisse, vicar of Newbery, was then the Prolo-
cutor—He died July 20,1646. He was allowed to be & person
of extensive knowledge, modest, humble, and religious.
PRESBYTEHIANISM.: 331
self still & champion in advocating episcopacy,
and strongly recommended them seriously to
consider the advantages, expediency, antiquity,
and universality of episcopacy, its ancient estab-
lishment in this country, its incorporating and
enwovening itself into the very municipal laws of
the land, and the difficulty of utterly removing it
without & total change in the whole body of our
laws. The bishop also very ably pointed out the
intrinsic value of episcopal’ government. This
tract is dated Sept. 12, 1644, ‘and signed PAilale-
thireneus, or, A Lover of Truth and Peace. *
It does not appear that this excellent treatise
of Bishop Hall made any successful impression
upon the assembly ; for, when the presbyterian
government was judged to be jus divinum, there
could afterwards be no chance for episcopacy to
be retained.
The directory was no sooner established after
abolishing the liturgy, and the presbyterian form -
of church government adopted in the room of
episcopacy, than the presbyterians and indepen-
dents, who agreed in the subversion of the church,
differed and quarrelled about the divine institution
of presbytertanism. The independents being joined
by the Erastians in this dispute, and having the
* Bishop Hali’s Works, vol. ix, p. 773.
332: LIFE OF ‘BISHOP ‘HALL.
army on their side, compelled the: presbyterians.
to give way in the point of coercive power, which
they had hitherto grasped at with all their-might.
If the leading presbyterian divines had come to
an:accommodation with the independents about a
limited toleration, they would probably have pre- -
vented the disputes between the parliament and
the army, which at length proved the ruin of
both. |
After the battle of Naseby, the king's affairs
declined rapidly. His Majesty, in the beginning
of November, 1645, returned to Oxford, when his
adherents gave him some hopes that peace might
be: obtained, provided. he would consent to the
abolition of episcopacy, and make some other
concessions. Though his Majesty then was-will-
ing to yield to the emergency of things, yet. he
could not be prevailed upon to give up the
church. The circumstances of his Majesty being
now reduced to such extremities, he thought
proper to deliver himself up, May 5, 1646, to the
hands of the Scots, then besieging Newark.
His. Majesty probably expected that the Scots
would have joined with him, and employed their
forces to obtain peace ; and, if his Majesty would
have submitted to embrace presbyterianism, and
taken the covenant, they would have joined
him, and acknowledged him as their sovereign.
THE KING: SUPPORTS EPISCOPACY. — 333
When his ‘Majesty was entreated to establish
presbyterianism in.both kingdoms, :and to take
the covenant, . he declared. that, though he was
willing the Scots should enjoy.their own ‘disci-
pline, he was obliged by conscience and in honour
to support episcopacy in England, because it had
been established from the. reformation ; and that
he was bound by his coronation. oath. to: uphold
it. In order to endeavour to make his Majesty:a
convert to presbyterianism, the Scots employed
The Rev. Alex. Henderson of Edinburgh, to enter
into a debate with the king respecting these points.
The debate was carried on in. writing; and it is ©
said that the king was much too hard for his
opponent in argument, so that he soon afterwards
died of grief, and heart broken.* Bishop Burnet
speaking of the king's superiority in this contro-
versy, says, * Had his Majesty's arms been as
strong as his reason was, . he had been every way
unconquerable, since none have the disingenuity
to. deny the great advantage his Majesty had in
all these writings; and this was when the help of
his chaplains could not be suspected, they being
far from him ; and that the king drew. with his
own hand all his papers without the help of any,
* Clarendon's Hist, of the Rebellion, vol. v, p. 31.
334 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL. —
is averred by the person who alone was privy
to the interchanging of them—tbat worthy and
accomplished gentleman, Robert Murray,” *
His Majesty proposed to admit the establish-
ment of episcopacy and presbyterianism, in order
to destroy the influence of the independents and
the other sectaries. He declared that he would
be content to restrain episcopal government (9
the dioceses of Oxford, Winchester, Bath and
Wells, and Exeter, leaving all the rest of Eagland
to the presbyterian discipline: t but the Scots
would abate nothing with regard to religion, and
so they shortly afterwards placed his Majesty in
the hands of the parliament. The king being now
the prisoner of the presbyterians, as they had a
majority in the house of commons, they might
have made their own terms with his Majesty ; but
they were still so enchanted with the “ beauties
of covenant uniformity, and the divine right of
their presbytery,” which ultimately the parliament
would not allow in its full extent. His Majesty
very sagaciously endeavoured to take advantage
of the divisions between the presbyterian and
independent parties, by favouring the latter, and
* Bishop Burnets Memoirs of the Dukes of Hamilton,
p. 277, fol. ed. 1677.
t Duke of Hamilton" s Memoirs, pp. 286,287. Rashworth,
p. 328.
ESTABLISHMENT OF PRESBYTERIANISM. 335
promising some of them valuable compensations for
any services they should do him; and intimatiag
to them that it was not possible for them to obtain -
relief in their scruples, from those who were per
suaded they were erecting the kiagdom of Christ.
However, though the independents were enemies
to the presbyterian discipline, they would not
trust the king.
England was now divided, instead of so many
dioceses, into a certain number of provinces,
made up from the several classes within their
boundaries. Every parish had a congregational,
or parochial presbytery, for the affairs of the
parish. The parochial presbyteries were combined
into classes,.and these chose representatives for
the provincial, as the provincial did for the
national assembly: but, though this presbyterian
model was thus settled and erected in the room
of episcopal government, there never was a pro-
vincial assembly, except in London and Lanca-
shire ;. the parliament never heartily approved of
it, and the influence and interest by which it was
supported, soon afterwards became ineffectual.*
* Narner's Eccles. Hist. of England, vol. ii, pp. 568, 569.
Dr. Walker, in his Sufferings of the Clergy, part i, pp. 36, 37,
calls the Presbyterian discipline, ‘‘ that golden idol, to which
they had offered so many human sacrifices, of which an imper-
fect image was raised at last, and. stood (where it ough& not)
336 ‘LIFE OF BISHOP’ HALL.
~The officers of the army, Sir Thomas Fairfax,
general, and Oliver Cromwell, lieutenant-general,
were of the party of the independents, and dis-
liked' the presbyterian model, as more tyrannical
than the episcopal. Having but few preachers
or chaplains in the army, the officers undertook
to preach and to pray publicly to the troops ; and
even the common soldiers ‘not only prayed and
preached publicly among themselves, but also
mounted the pulpits in all the churches where
they happened to be quartered, and harangued
the people with great: fervour and zeal. This:
enthusiastic spirit diffused itself like a pestilence:
it was caught by all ranks of men, and even. the
‘women “ would not restrain the Spirit.” “It was
pleaded,” says Neal, ‘‘in excuse for this practice,
that a gifted brother had better preach and pray
to the people than nobody; but now learning,
good sense, and the rational interpretation of
scripture, began to be cried down, and every bold
pretender to inspiration was preferred to the
most grave and sober divines of the age ; some
in the place of the church.” And (ibid, p.41.) the same
writer says, ** Thus fell episcopacy, the only government of the
christian church, from the days of the Apostles, before the
lame and imperfect pattern of Scots Presbytery—the ark. of
God, (to increase our misery beyond that of God’s church
among the Jews, in one of its greatest calamities) before an
headiess and handless Dagon.”
STATE OF ENGLAND. | 337
advanced themselves into the rank of prophets,
and others uttered all such crude and undigested
absurdities as came first into their minds, calling
them the dictates of the Spirit within them; by
which the public peace was frequently disturbed,
and great numbers of ignorant people led into the
belief of the most dangerous errors." *
At the close of the year 1646, both church and
state were in the utmost disorder and confusion,
and continued so more or less till the restoration
in 1660. Bishop Hall, feelingly lamenting the
deplorable state of the country, thus speaks:
** Was there ever a more fearful example of divine
vengeance against any nation, than to be armed
against each other to their mutual destruction?
that christian compatriots, brethren, should pour
out each other's blood like water in our streets,
and leave their mangled carcases for compost in
our.fields? that none but the sharper sword
should be left to be the arbiter of our deadly
differences? that fathers and sons should so put
off all natural affection, as to think it no violation
of piety to cut the throats of each other? Oh!
that we had lived to seethe woeful havoc, that the
* Neal's Hist. of the Puritans, vol.iii, pp. 339, 940. The Rev.
Thomas Edwards, Minister of Christ Church, London, a rigid
presbyterian, rendered himself notorious at this time for a
rancorous and furious book, intitled Gangrena, 4to, in 3 parts,
against the Sectaries of this period.
Z
338 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
hellish fury of war hath made, every where, in this
flourishing and populous island; the flames of
hostile fury rising up in our towns and cities; the
devastation of our fruitful and pleasant villages;
the demolition of our magnificent structures ; the
spoils and ruins of those fabrics that should be
sacred ; in a word, this goodly land, for a great
part of it, turned to a very Golgotha and Acel-
dema!” *
The parliament, after the Scots consented to
deliver up the king, appointed commissioners to
convey his Majesty to Holmby-house in North-
amptonshire, Feb. 1646--7. He was treated
with some respect, but his trusty servants were
not allowed to attend him; and it was not even
permitted to him to have any of his own chapluins
to assist him in his devotions, though he earnestly
desired to have any two out of thirteen, whith he
nominated, to attend him. This was refused
him; and two presbyterian ministers were ordered
to officiate in the chapel; but his Majesty never
gave his attendance, and so was compelled to be
his own chaplain, using the liturgical service of
- the church in his own chamber. f -
* Works, vol.'v, p. 563.. |
+ Clarendon, vol. iii, p. 39. — Neal's Hist. of the Puritans,
vol. iii, p. 335.
CHAPTER . IX. -
Tue army had hitherto acted in subordination
to the parliament; but now, the war being over,
and the king a prisoner, they were unwilling to be
entirely at the disposal of the parliament, and to
submit to presbyterian uniformity. The army
consisted chiefly of independents, few presbyte-
rians, anabaptists, and men of unsettled religious
principles. They however consented that presby-
terianism should be the established religion, but
insisted on a toleration of all sects and parties.
The disposition of. the presbyterians was to perse-
cute and harass every sect with as much severity
end bitterness as they did the church. The
presbyterians thought that through their superior
influence in both houses, they should be able to
get the better of the army: they came therefore
to a resolution of seizing the person of Cromwell,
whose dissimulation and hypocrisy were now
evident; but he, having notice, of their design the
night before, made his escape to the army. At
Z 3
340 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
the same time, the army, by the advice and
direction of Cromwell, took the king by force
from the custody of the parliament at Holmby-
house, and conveyed him to the head quarters
at Newmarket. His Majesty now met with
some kind treatment and respect. Many of his
friends had free access to him; and four of his
chaplains, viz. Dr. Sheldon, Dr. Morley, Dr.
Saunderson, and Dr. Hammond, were permitted
to attend him.
The king being now in the possession of the
army, they therefore began to be more contuma- .
cious with the parliament; and Cromwell, on this
occasion said, that ** now he had got the king into
his hands, he had the parliament in his pocket. "*
The army made liberty of conscience their great
charter, and till they obtained it, they resolved
not to lay down their arms: they had fought the
battles of the parliament, and so considered it
unreasonable to be told that except they would
conform with the presbyterian discipline, they
should be persecuted and punished as sectaries,
and driven out of the land. In order to prevent
this, they treated with the king, and offered him
much better terms, and behaved towards him
with much more courtesy, than he ever met with
* Rushworth, p. 545, 549. Neal, vol. iii, p. 369.
ESCAPE OF THE KING. 941
from the parliament. But his Majesty was afraid
to trust them. And besides, we are told that he
had adopted a maxim, from which his best friends
could not dissuade him, viz. that it was in his
power to turn the scale, and that the party must
sink which he abandoned. This, together with
some insincerity, which he practised towards
. Cromwell and Ireton, who themselves were not
sincere in their treaty with him, proved the ruin of
Charles I. and which, it is said, he repented of
when too late.*
His Majesty, thinking that some design was
intended to murder him, escaped from the army»
intending to cross the sea, but was secured in
Carisbrook Castle in the Isle of Wight. 'The
public tranquillity was now in a very precarious
situation, as there was a general distrust and
suspicion on all sides, and every party resolved to
carry their point withoutany abatement. . Theking
continüed resolute in adhering to the constitution
of church and state. 'The Scots and English
presbyteriaus, though divided in some political
points, thought themselves bound to stand by the
solemn league and covenant; and the army was
under an engagement to agree with neither without
atoleration. If his Majesty would have submitted
* Warner's Eccles. Hist. of Eng. vol. ii, p. 570. Neal’s Hist.
of the Puritans, vol, iii, p. 379.
349 LIFE OF - BISHOP’ HALL.
to: covendnt* uniformity; the presbyterians might
‘have restored him: or, ‘if-the ‘king or partiament
~wottld liave declared fora toleration, péacé- might
thave' béen kestored by ‘military force. 'But'so
it Was; 'that such terms of accommodation as could
Yecontile ‘such’ ópposite and: clashing interests,
cotild not iow be contrived: at tliis time.
- “When the king’ was with the army'in some state
of honor, want. and misery obliged many: thou-
wands of the parochial‘ clergy to present a petition
to his Majesty, July 17, 1647, stating’ “ that
whereas they had a long’ time been‘destitute of all
. Hivelihood,: by’ míeans- of sequestration of: their
estates, and other losses, and ** then” driven 1o
extreme necessities, how to provide for themselves
and‘ ‘their families; "and ‘the season, '* then”
approaching forthe’ receiving the benefits of the
harvest, "before" which :time, if. some: eharitable
‘course be tot taken, ‘they were like ‘to’ starve or
beg: another’ year,: ** and "therefore praying his
Majesty to take their sad condition ‘into hi$ gra-
cious ‘consideration and ‘care, that':some! speedy
‘course ‘might: be taken’ to ‘preserve ‘them alive,”
'&c. | |
To this' petition’ the king ‘returned’ a’ gracious
answer, though: he was'then so'cireumtstámced,:as
being hardly capable of doing any service to the
suffering clergy: he however recommended their
distressed case to the general, -and teld' them
DISTRESSES OF THE CLERGY. 343
* how deeply sensible he was of their condition,
and desired them to rest assured, that whatsoever
was in his power for their relief, should not be
wanting ; but for the present, all that he could do, -
was to recommend the petition to the general and
commanders.of the army." They therefore peti-
tioned in form the general, Sir Thomas Fairfax,
who received their petition respectfully, and pro-
posed to the parliament that the estates of all
sequestered persons, includiug the clergy, should
remain in.the hands of the tenants till a'general.
peace. Upon which some of the clergy made
attempts to recover their benefices, ‘and dispos-
sess the intruders. But this turned out to their
disadvantage, and caused them new troubles. At
that juncture, when the army and the parliament
had been for some time at.variance, the distressed
clergy had some hopes of redress: but when the
differences were now nearly compromised, all
their expectations were entirely cut off.
Aug. 12, 1647, the presbyterian ministers peti-
tioned the general, complaining * that divers
delinquent ministers, who had been put out of their
livings, did now trouble, and seek to turn out
those ministers, whom the parliament had put in,
&c." Sir Thomas Fairfax and the parliament
disapproved of these proceedings ; and an ordi-
nance was passed that those delinquent ministers
and others, who would trouble or molest the
344 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
ministers put into livings by the parliament, should
be punished.”*.
When the university of Oxford fell into the
hands of the parliament, they ordered a visitation
of it, in order to make the colleges to take the
covenant, so as to reduce them to obedience. But
the university, which had continued firm in its
loyalty to the king, passed a public act and decla-
ration against the covenant, and refused to submit
to the authority of the visitors, till they were sub-
dued and compelled by a military force. T
The parliament, having been strengthened by
the return of some presbyterian members, who
either had absconded, or deserted their stations,
when the army was in the neighbourhood, now
resumed their courage. Though the independents
had persisted in requiring an unlimited toleration,
the presbyterians at this time took an opportunity
of discovering their principles, by passing a most
cruel ordinance against sects and heretics. It
was ordained that all persons, who should main-
* Walker's Sufferings of the Clergy, parti, pp. 145, 146.
Neal's Hist. of the Puritans, vol. iii, pp. 392, 393.
+ See a full and particular account of the visitation of the
| University of Oxford by the Parliament, in Clarendon’s Hist. of
the Rebellion, vol. iii, b. x, p. 73, &c. Walker’s Sufferings of
the Clergy, part i, pp. 122--144. Neal's Hist. of the Puritans,
vol. iii, pp. 395--438 See in the appendix to this vol. Rustica
Academia Oxoniensis nuper reformate descriptio, by Dr. Alibone,
& very curious satyrical piece,
OVERTURES OF THE KING. 345
tain, publish, or defend, by preaching or writing,
the heresies which were after mentioned, with
obstinacy, should be committed to prison without
bail till the next gaol delivery; and if the indict-
ment should then be found, and the party not
abjure, he should suffer death as a felon. This
was intitled an ordinance against blasphemy and
heresy, and was dated May 2, 1648. This single
ordinance is sufficient to shew, that the presbyte-
rians would have made a dreadful use of their
power, if it had been supported by the sword of |
the civil magistrate. *
The king was kept a close prisoner in Caris-
brook Castle; but, in consequence of a secret
treaty with the Scots, an army was raising in that
kingdom to join the royalists in England, in order
to rescue the king from his confinement. This
circumstance caused another dreadful civil war,
and hastened the horrible catastrophe of his
Majesty. In this calamitous state of affairs, no
hope seemed to be left to the parliament but to
treat with the king. "Therefore a treaty was held
with bis Majesty at Newport in the Isle of Wight,
during the months of September, October, and
November, 1648. Before the treaty began, the
commissioners from the parliament informed his
Majesty, that they could not permit any other
* Neal’s Hist. of the Puritans, vol. iii, p. 458. Warner's.
Eccles. Hist. of England, vol. ii, p. 571.
346 LIFE OF .BISHOP ,HALL.
persons besides himself to,.confer with them
respecting their .demanda; .and.all the help he
could obtain from ;the bishops.and divines, who
had been allowed to,attead upon him, was, that
they might stand. behind a curtain, and.upon any
peint of difliculty, his, Majesty might retire to his
chamber for their. advice. * - ‘This was the unrea-
sonable preliminary, to whieh the king was
obliged to submit, before the. treaty, commenced :
and afterwards he. saw. that .the commissioners
could not, or would not, relax. any point whatever
in what they had to propose. Wherefore, to
sherten the negotiation, and to let the parliament
know how: far,, his. Majesty. could comply with
their demands,-ke sent a message to explain his
intentions. With reBard. to religion he made the
following cancessions: viz. That.the assembly of
divines at Westminster. may .be confirmed -for
* Neal says, that *' several noblemen, gentlemen, divines, and
lawyers, were appointed to assist him in the treaty, who were
to stand behind his , Majesty/a chair and hear the; debates, but
not to speak, except when the king withdrew into another room
for: their advice; the names of his divines were Dr. Juxon,
bishop of London, Dr. Duppa, bishop .of Salisbury, Dr. Sheldon,
Dr. Hammond, Dr.Oldisworth, Dr. Saunderson, Dr. Turner,
Dr. Haywood: and towards the end of the treaty Dr. Usher,
archbishop of Armagh, Dr. Bramhall, De. Prideux, Dr.Warner,
Dr. Ferne, and Dr. Morley: Dr. Brownrigge, bishop of Exeter,
was also sent for, but he was under restraint. And Dr, Sheldon,
Dr. Hammond, and Dr. Oldisworth, being also under restraint,
were not permitted to stand." : Hist. of the Puritans, vol. iii,
p. 462. :
. - DISCUSSIONS. « 947
three .yeare and-the directory, ends presbyterian
governmenti.contimue for the: same perted ; -pro-
vided ‘that «neither hinself, nor his adherents,
should be: obliged to: conform to it-—-that during
that period, a consultation should: be. had with the
assembly, and ::;with: twenty divines of his own
nomination, to: determine upon:a form.of govern-
ment to be estabhshed : afterwards in the :church,
with a provision fer the ease of tender consciences
-—that. his Majesty would consent -that.- legal
estates for lives,:or fer a term:of years,: not
exceeding ninety-ninie,. night be:made: from the .
lands:and: revenues of bishops, for the satisfaction
ofthese who have purchased them; provided that
the: inheritance may still: remain: in the church,
and. the residue be reserved for their maintenance.
'Fhese, with:some other coneessions of less impor-
tance, his: Majesty delivered to the commissioners
as'his final answer. ia conclusion, liis Majesty
challenged :.the . parliament divines,: who: were
. assistants -to the: commissionere;: to: shew,- that
either. there is no form of church :goverament
prescribed ‘in’ scripture ; or, if. there be, that the
civil power may alter it:as they see cause; or, if
it was unchangeable,: that it. was: not episcopal ;
and tall. this was done, he should think himself
. excusable for not consenting to the abolition of
that church government, which he found settled
at his coronation, which is.so0 ancient; has been so
348 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
universally received in the christian world, con-
firmed by:so many acts of. parliament, and ' been
subscribed by all the clergy of the church of
England. But the presbyterian divines did not
think fit to enter on this debate.
The párliament spent several days in deliberat-
ing on the above concessions of his Majesty,
and at last voted them unsatisfactory with regard
to episcopacy. The king made some further
concessions, which were not approved of. 'The
time of the treaty was prolonged, and some new
propositions made to the king. At last, there
being but one day left to determine the fate of
the whole kingdom, the commissioners pressed
his Majesty to satisfy the demands of the parlia-
ment. His own council, and his divines, besought
him to consider the safety of his person for the
sake of the church and people; because they
had some hope still left, whilst his Majesty was
preserved, that they should enjoy many blessings;
whereas if he was destroyed, there was scarce a
possibility to preserve them:—that, upon the
best judgment they could make, the order, which
his Majesty endeavoured to preserve with so
much zeal and piety, was much more likely to be
ruined by his not complying, than by his sus-
pending it tll a future government could be
settled. The mind of the unhappy king was
much distressed on account of these considera- -
tions, so that he told the commissioners, ** that
REMONSTRANCE OF THE ARMY, 349
after the condescensions he had already made in
the business of the church, he had expected not
to be further pressed : it being his judgment and
his.conscience. He could not consent to abolish
episcopacy out of the church." * .
This treaty, in the end, proved unsuccessfal à in
promoting the peace of the country; and a short
time before its conclusion, the army had sent a
remonstrance to the parliament to express their
high dissatisfaction with the treaty, because no
provision was made for liberty of conscience and
toleration. This remonstrance of the army plainly
discovered the intentions of the independents, to
blow up the constitution, and to bury the king,
episcopacy, and presbytery in.its ruins. In a
kind of despair, and under the influence of a
religious . phrenzy, the army entered upon the
most desperate measures, resolving to take the
‘SOVEREIGN POWER into their own hands — to
bring the king to justice —to set aside the covenant
— and to change the government into a common-
wealth. In order to accomplish these horrible
resolutions, the remonstrance was presented to
the parliament, Nov.20, 1648. It was accom-
panied with many petitions from different parts
of the .kingdom, tending to the same. purpose.
‘The parliament, upon this, was struck with the
* Warner's Eccles. Hist. of England, vol. ii, p. 672, &c.
350 .?. LAFR. OF BISHOP. HAUL. -
utmost: coustemation, and, though: afew. days
before votedthe king’s concessions amsatisfaetory,
again: teok. his:'angwer into:considoration ;.. and
after a ‘violent: debate: for three -duys, it^ was
carried by a majority: of forty-two, . that his
Majesty's ‘concessions were :a: sufficient» founda-
tion-for the houses to proceed^wpomin the: settle-
ment-of ‘the: kiagdom: but: it was: themtoo late.
The arms had now secured the person of the
king; aud: he was‘conveyed:. by a: party: of: horse
to ‘Hurst. Castle, where: he continued. till. he was
conducted: to Windsor in order to his trial. The
general had:marched. the army;to -London; and
the next day. the presbyteriam: members were .
excluded from. the house- by: a: military force;
and:theindependent members, who were admitted,
voted the king's answer to: the: propositions: net
satisfactory. . The.queetion- naw was, what: was
next to ‘be :doner It was high. time: to: settle
some'form: of government, under which the nation
was.to. live.. So:in order to gain: popularity; they
deciared that parliament should be dissolved on
the last. day: of April- following :: and. that.in the
mean time they would. bring those» delinquents
to justice; who had disturbed: the. peace .of the
kingdom, and: put it to such: an expenoce.of- blood
and: treasure: But the: height of all: iniquity:and
fanatical extravagance yet remained to be acted:
it was determined to impeach the king of high
treason, as having been the cause of all the blood
DEATH OF THE KING. 391
spilt during the rebellion. "The sovereign was
tried and executed by a set of desperate officers
of the army, and their dependents,* "There was
nothing in the common or statute law which
could direct or warrant this iniquitous proceed-
ing, they therefore made a new form never
before heard of—*4n high court of justice to
try his Majesty for high treason $n levying war
against his parliament.” t He fell a sacrifice to
the rage and enthusiasm: of. the fàmutie. leaders of
the army, who, proceeding;from one kcebtieusnbss
to andther, had arrived! at-an mzplaeable, repub-
lican, virulent:spirit, regardless'of all-làws, divime
and human. ..The particulars .of. the mordér af
King Charles 4. on the^30thr of Jam 1648-9; and
his character; need not'here be related:; they are
so fully narrated by: Lord Clavenden, Dugdale,
and other historimis-T:
. . * They have been described as a ** swarm of armed. enthu-
siasts, whó outwitted the patriots; out-priyed the puritans,
and out-fought the cavaliers." Bishop Warburton's Sermon
before the House of Lords, Jan. 30, 1760.
f Clarendon’s Hist. of the Rebellion, vol: iii; b; xi, p. 244.
t See a very interesting chdracter of, King Charles 1. in War-
ners Eccles. Hist. of England, vol. ii, pp. 574--577: but the
eicellent and pious Bishop Horne, in his sermon intitled THE
CHRISTIAN KING, has given us a very atriking and. interesting
view of the character of Charles I. as à KING, & CHRISTIAN,
and 4 MARTYR. See Bishop Horne's Works, vol: iii, p. 398.
CHAPTER X.
THE constitution, having been so much muti-
lated and reduced in the progress of the rebel-
lion, at the execution of the king was totally dis-
solved. The small remains of an house of commons
prohibited the proclaiming of the Prince of Wales,
or any other person whatsoever, under the pain
of high treason, and voted the house of lords
to be useless, and the office of a king dangerous
to the state. The oaths of allegiance and supre-
macy were abolished, and a new one, called the
engagement, was appointed, by which all persons
who held any place or office in church or state,
were required to swear, * that they would be
true and faithful to the government established,
without king, or house of peers." The form of
government for the future, was declared to be
a free commonwealth, of which the executive
power was to be lodged in the hands of a council
of state of about forty. persons, any nine of whom
were to take care of the administration for one
RUMP PARLIAMENT. 393
year. Such was the foundation of this new
government, which neither had the consent of the
nation, nor their representatives in parliament.
The parliament, as it was, consisted only of about
eighty members, all of them'independents. And . : E
‘these few members voted the exclusion of all the
other members, unless they took the engagement.
A licentious, republican, and fanatic army, which
had spread an universal terror, had got this extra-
ordinary and excessive power to this parliament,
which, consisting of so inconsiderable a number of
members, obtained in derision the appellation of
the rump parliament. *
. The Jndependent interest, by means of the
army, now prevailed in and over the parliament:
not only the loyal clergy began to suffer afresh
** under a new set of tyrants,” but even the pres-
byterians ** became .fellow-sufferers, and were
involved in one common calamity, with those
many thousands of ruined loyalists, over whom
they had themselves for such a long course of
years, lorded it with so much rigour and
cruelty.” t
* Walker, the author of the History of Independency, first
gave them this name, in allusion to a fowl, all devoured but the
rump. They were also compared to a maa who would never
cease to whet and whet his knife, till there was no steel left to
make it useful. Dr.Grey and Rapin.
t Walker's Sufferings of the Clergy, part i, p. 146.
Aa
354 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
' It is not necessary in this work to enter fully
into the measures which were taken for settling
this usurped government. In such a time of
universal confusion, the transactions which con-
cerned then the church and state ought rather to
be razed out of. the page of history, than particu-
larly related, lest the success of so much villany,
dissimulation, and enthusiasm, should in after
ages encourage the same horrible and iniquitous
factions against the established constitution of
church and state.
Now every man was at liberty to profess any
principles of religion, and to teach what he pro-
fessed. Bishop Hall in these distracted times,
speaking of those who cause divisions, says, “ they
have much to answer for to the God of peace and
. unity, who are so much addicted to their own
conceits, and so iidulgent to their own interest,
as to raise and maintain new doctrines, arid tó set
up new sects in the church of Christ, varying froin
the common and received truths; labouring tb
draw disciples after them, to the great distraction
of souls, and scandal of christianity: with which
sort of disturbers I must needs say this age, into
which we are fallen, hath been and is, above all
that have gone before us, most miserably pestered:
what good soul can be other than confounded, to
hear of and see more. than a hundred and four
score new, and some of them dangerous and blas-
DIVISIONS IN THE CHURCH. 355
phemous opinions, broached and defended in one,
once famous and unanimous church of Christ?
Who can say other, upon the view of these wild
thoughts, than Gerson said long since, that the
world, now grown old, is full of doting fancies ;
if not rather, that the world, now near his end,
raves and talks nothing but fancies and frenzies
How arbitrary soever these self-willed fanatics
may think it, to take to themselves this liberty of
thinking what they list, and venting what they
think, the blessed Apostle hath long since branded
them with a heavy sentenee: Now I beseech you,
brethren, mark them which cause divisions and
offences, contrary to the doctrine which you have
learned, and avoid them: for they that are such,
serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their. own
belly; and by good words and fair speeches,
deceive the hearts of the simple. Rom. xvi, 17, 18."
Again, our author justly lamenting the manifold
and grievous distractions of the church of Christ
: then both in judgment and affection, says, * Woe
is.me, into how many thousand pieces is the
seamless coat of our Saviour rent! Yea, into
what numberless atoms, is the precious body of
Christ torn and minced! "There are more reli-
gions than nations upon earth; and in each reli-
gion, as many different conceits, as men. If St.
Paul, when his Corinthians did but say, J am of
Paul, 1 am of Apollos, Iam of Cephas, could ask,
Aa2 |
356 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
‘Is Christ divided? (1 Cor.i, 12, 13.) when there
was only an emulatory magnifying of their own
teachers, though agreeing and orthodox; what,
think we, would he now say, if he saw a hundred
of sect-masters and heresiarchs, some of them
opposite to other, all to the truth, applauded by
their credulous and divided followers, all of them
claiming Christ for theirs, and denying him to
their gainsayersr Would he not ask, ** Is Christ
multiplied? Is Christ subdivided? Is Christ
shred into infinites >” O God! what is become of
christianity? How do evil spirits and men labour
to destroy that creed, which we have always
constantly professed! For if we set up more
Christs, where is that one? And if we give way
to these infinite distractions, where is the commu-
nion of saints r” *
The churches and pulpits were now open to all
sorts of. people, who would wish to display their
gifts of praying and preaching there. A general
distraction and confusion in religion overspread
the whole kingdom. An ingenious, elegant, and
pious living author thus describes the state of
religion then in England ; * During the time of
the interregnum, the prevailing sentiments in reli-
gion had been of a very singular, not to say of a
* Bishop Hall's Works, vol. viii, pp. 241, 244.
RELIGIOUS EXTRAVAGANCE. | 904
very extravagant nature. The doctrines of reve-
lation were disjoined from its precepts, so’ that
one half of the bible became useless, except, per--
haps, in the hands of an unusually skilful allego-
rizer, who had the art of extracting a speculative
theorem from the most practical command. The
language even of secular intercourse was modelled .
upon that of the received translation of the sacred
volume. The most unchristian acts were described
in the most christian terms. Men thought them-
selves religious, if they used the language of the
Bible, how flagrantly soever they might oppose
its spirit. He who could give to a text the most
fanciful twist, the most recondite allusion, was
esteemed the ablest divine. "The union of a sound
creed with an irreligious life, of a- clear insight
into revelation with a neglect of all its duties,
became alarmingly common ; so that hypocrisy
and the most vulgar affectation were every where
apparent.” *
There is nothing which can give a better idea
of the'total dissolution of all principles of order
and moral rectitude at that time, than the act
which was then passed against : blasphemous,
atheistical, and execrable opinions. In the pre-
amble of this act, it appears that there were then
* Wilks’ Christian Essays, vol. i, p.21.
358 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
persons, who professed, that all sorts of iniquity
were “in their own nature as holy and righteous
as the duties of ptayer, preaching, or giving thanks
to God ; that happiness consisted in the commis- |
sion of such crimes; and that.there was really no
such thing as heaven or hell, nor any unrighteous-
neis.or.sin independent of conscience and opinion.”
Miserable and distracted indeed was the state of
religion at this time in England; * when the
church was defaced and overspread with errors
and blasphemies, defiled with abominations, rent
in pieces with divisions, and so swallowed up in
confusion and disorder." *
The engagement, which might be properly called
the Independent covenant, as it was intended to
supersede the solemn league and covenant of the
presbyterians, was appointed to be taken by all
civil, ecclesiastical, and military officers whatso-
ever, on pain of forfeiting their several offices, and
was now referred to a committee, in order that
the whole kingdom should take it. A bill was
therefore passed in the beginning ofthe year 1650,
to exclude from the benefit of the law, and to
disable from sueing in any court of law or equity, .
every person of the age of eighteen and upwards,
* Warner's Eccles. Hist. of England, vol. ii, p. 579.
THE ENGAGEMENT. 359
who should refuse to take and subscribe the
engagement. The presbyterian ministers, though
they enforced the covenant in as arbitrary a manner,
. yet when it came now to their turn to suffer,
could perceive the iniquity of such a violence done -
tolaw and conscience. "They inveighed bitterly
in their.sermons against the engagement, and
refused to observe the days of humiliation
appointed by the parliament for a blessing on
their arms. The body of the common people
being now weary of a civil war, and willing to
live quiet under any government, submitted to the
engagement. Many of the presbyterian ministers,
however, chose rather to relinquish their prefer-
ments in the church and universities, than comply.
"The parliament tried seyeral methods to recon-
cile them, to the present administration; but when
they found jt, was.all in vain, an order was pub-
lished, that. ministers in the pulpits should not
meddle with state affairs. The famous Milton
was then appointed to write for the common-
wealth, who severely and satirically lashed every
party adverse to the measures of the new admi-
nistration. An act was also passed to sequester —
from ecclesiastical preferments all, who vilified
and aspersed in the pulpit the authority of par
lament.
A. declaration was also published complaining
360 . LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
of the revolt of English and Scots presbyterians
to the enemy, because the discipline of the parlia-
ment was not the exact standard of reformation.
The parliament did all they could to satisfy them:
they: determined that all the ordinances for the
promoting a reformation of religion, in doctrine,
discipline and worship, should continue in full
force; and that the government in the church
should be the presbyterian. They ordered the
lands belonging to deans and chapters to be sold :
and the bishop’s lands, which had been seques-
tered, were vested by an ordinance in the hands
of new trustees, and appropriated to the augmen-
tation of small livings. The first-fruits and tenths
of all ecclesiastical promotions, formerly payable
to the crown, were vested in the same hands, free
from all incumbrances, on trust, that they should
pay yearly all such salaries and stipends as had
been settled and confirmed in parliament; pro-
vided the assignment to any one did not exceed
an hundred pounds. The commissioners of the
great seal were empowered to enquire into the
yearly value of all ecclesiastical livings to which
any cure of souls was annexed, that some course
might'be taken for providing a better maintenance
where it was wanting, and that the salary of no
incumbent should be less than one hundred
pounds a year. A part also of the money arising
from the sale of the bishops' lands, and those of
J DISCONTENTS. 361
the deans and chapters,* was appropriated for
the support and maintenance of the bishops, and
members of the cathedrals, who were deprived of
their promotions and dignities. Such regulations
were laudable, if they were effectually put in
practice: but still the pulpit and the press sounded
high the discontents both of the royalists and
presbyterians. An ordinance was therefore pub-
lished, to put the press entirely under the direc-
tion of. the parliament; and the monthly fast,
which had subsisted above seven years,, and had
been, in a great measure, a fast for strife and
debate, was abrogated by another ordinance, that
there might be no censures published on the pre-
sent government. n
Remote parts of the kingdom, as North and
* 'The money raised by the sale of those lands amounted to a
large sum. The return of the value of the lands, contracted for
to Aug. 29, 1650, made to the committee for the sale of them,
fixed it at the sum of £948,409, 18s. 2d. of which, on Aug.
31, the total of the purchasers’ acquittances amounted to
£ 658,501, 2s. 9d. See Dr. Grey's Exam. of Neal, vol. iii,
Appendix, p. 18. Dr. Walker says in his Sufferings of the Clergy,
'p. 14, that the value of bishops’ lands forfeited and sold
amounted to a million of money. ** The revenues allotted to the
support of cathedrals and their appendages, were seized with a
view to augment the stnaller livings. But mark the event: when
the estates were sold, the presbyterian ministers, who had taken
possession of the livings, and expected the augmentation, were
told, to their utter astonishment, that the money was wanted to
support public credit. It was wanted, and it was applied
accordingly.” Bp. Horne's Works, vol. iv, p. 41.
*
862 LIFE OF BASHOP HALL.
Seuth- Wales, had. not as yet experienced the
effects of.tke reformation, which had been carried
on since the. commencement of the long parlia-
ment. The clergy .of those parts had not as yet
suffered with the rest of their brethren; but the
parliament at last made them to compensate for
the delay of their sufferings. Feb, 29, 1649--50,
an .Aot was passed for the.better propagation, and
preaching of the gospel.in Wales, for ejecting
scandalous ministers and .schoolmasters, and
redress.of some grievances; it was to eontinue in
force for three years. Dr..Walker,.in his ** Suffer-
ings of the Clergy,” has,given a full and curious,
though perhaps rather, exaggerated account of the
propagation of the gospel in Wales hy the mission-
aries of the commonwealth; to which account
the author refers his readers.
About this time we are to date the rise of the
people called Quakers, from George Fox, born at
Drayton in Lancashire, and bred a shoemaker.
. He pretended that all the qualifications necessary
for ministers were the anointing of the Spirit,
* that people should receive the inward divine
teachings of the Lon», and take that for their rule."
He apprehended the Long» had forbad him to put
off his hat to any one, and that he was to speak
to the people without distinction, in the language
of thee and thou, &c. In such peculiarities many
of the enthusiasts of this time concurred ; and
QUAKERS. , 363
George Fox ‘had soon a great ramber of followers.
Whenever he spoke ‘in public, it was with ‘con-
Vulsive agitations and shakings of the body,
asserting it to be the character of a good man to
tremble before God. Hence the name of Quakers
is given to these people. If they had at first any
other design than to gratify an enthusiastic spirit
which was then so prevalent, it was to reduce all
revealed religion to allegory, and to extirpate all
order, ceremony, ‘and rite out of'divine service,
leaving every thing to the impulse of their own -
spirit. Their public meetings were occasional, at
which one or other spoke, as they were moved
from withm ; ‘sometimes they departed without
any one being moved to speak at all They
denied the scriptures to be the only rule of faith,
and maintained that every man had a light within .
himself, which was a very sufficient rule. They
were great disturbers of the public religion at that
time; but now they are become an inoffensive,
benevolent, and respectable denomination. *
During these transactions ‘ih : England, the
young king, Charles II. was crowned in Scotland.
This occasioned a war between the two nations.
The king entered England at the head of an
army, and being proclaimed in several places, was -
* For a full and interesting account of the principles of the
Quakers, see Clarkson's Portaiture of Quakerism, 3 vols. 8vo.
364 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
defeated by Cromwell at the battle of Worcester,
Sept.3, 1651. His Majesty providentially escaped,
and passed over into France.:
The war being over, the parliament therefore
intended to reduce the army; but, in this case,
Cromwell could easily discern that this would
prove his ruin, ‘by disarming him.of his power, and
by reducing bim from a general to the condition
of a private gentleman. Upon this, he judged that
there was no other way of maintaining his power
than to make himself master of the parliament, by
means of his council of officers in the army. The
officers, therefore, combined together, and would
not suffer any change to be made in the army, till
the arrears of their pay were fully paid. "They
reminded the house of commons how many years
they had sat, to the exclusion of others, who
ought to have a share in the government of their
country ; and then recommended them to settle
a new council of state for the present administra-
tion of affairs, to summon a new parliament and
dissolve themselves. But the house, instead of
taking this advice, at which being much irritated,
appointed a committee to prepare a bill imme-
diately, to make it high treason for.any one to
present any more such petitions. This precisely
was what Cromwell looked for. Being sure that
the parliament were as odious to the nation, as
they were disagreeable to the army, he went to
*
DISSOLUTION OF THE PARLIAMENT. 365
the house with some officers and a file of mus-
keteers, on the 20th of April, 1653, and without any
ceremony told the members, that he came to put
an end to their power, of which they had made an
ill use, and that they must depart immediately.
* In this manner, did Cromwell, without the
least opposition, or even murmur, annihilate that
famous assembly, which had filled all Europe with '
the renown of its actions, and with astonishment
at its crimes; and whose commencement was not
more ardently desired by the people, than was its
final dissolution." * 0
The parliament being thus dissolved, the sove-
reign power was necessarily to. be lodged some-
where; and Cromwell might have taken it into
his own hands by the same authority as he dis-
Solved the parliament. But it was not time yet
to put his plan into execution. Cromwell brought
his council of officers to a resolution, that one
hundred and forty-four persons should be entrusted
with the sovereign power, and be nominated by
himself. T At the same time that he displayed
his abilities in the choice of these persons, he
seemed that he had a design in view, which,
though then concealed, would in time discover
* Warner's Eccles, Hist. of England. vol. ii, p. 582.
+ See a list of the persons in Dugdale’s View of the Troubles
. in England, pp. 406--409. |
366 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
itself. These persons selected to be set at the helm
of the state, were no politicians, and were. mostly
of low and obscure birth, with no particular merit,
and no experience in affairs.* -Cromwell could
foresee that such characters would soon ‘grow
tired, and find themselves obliged to place the
government in his hands. And so every thing
succeeded as he expected. This singular parlia-
ment was called in contempt Barebone’s parlia-
ment, from a leatherseller of that name, T who was
one of the most active members. Lord Claren-
don says, that the members of this parliament
* were generally a pack of weak senseless fellows,
fit only to bring the name and reputation of par-
liaments lower than it was yet." t
Having voted themselves to he called the Par-
* ** Of these," says Dugdale, ** many were illiterate and of
mean condition, divers fanatic sectaries, and of that kind the
most busy and mischievous; yet here and there mixt with con-
fiding men, and such whose interest was firmly twisted with
Cromwell." View of the "Troubles in England, p. 409.
t There were three brothers of the family of the Barebones,
each of whom had a sentence for his name, viz. Praise God
Barebone. Christ came into the world to save Barebone. And
if Christ had not died, thou hadst been damned Barebone. In
this style were the christian names of very many persons formed
during the Rebellion and Interregnum. It was said that the
genealogy of Jesus Christ might be learnt from the names of
Cromwell's regiments; and that the muster-master used no other
list than the ist chap. of St. Matthew. See Granger's Hist. of
England, vol. iii, p. 68. Dr. Grey's Exam. of Neal, pp. 280,
287. Neal’s Hist. of the Puritans, vol. iv, pp. 72, 73.
t Hist. of the Rebellion, vel. iii, be14, p. 482.
BAREBONE'$ PARLIAMENT. 304
liament of England, * they vigorously fell to work
for a thorough reformation, dreaming of nothing
less, than that Jesus Christ must shortly reign
with them here on earth. To prepare the way
therefore to his personal coming, they considered
of abolishing the ministerial function, as savour-
ing, in their opinion, of popery. Likewise for the
taking away of tithes, as the relics. of judaism.
Also to abrogate the old English laws, as badges
of conquest and Norman slavery. And lastly to
suppress the Universities, and all schools for
learning, as heathenish and unnecessary, with ali
titles of honour and dietimctions, as not agreeable
to christianity. All which they had, without
question, soon effected, but that some few of
them, 'of better judgments, gave a stop to their
frenzy." * | |
The. noble historian gives us the following
accotmt of this parliament of Cromwell's noaninsc
tion: ** These men thus brought together continued
in this capacity near six months, to the amaze-
mient, and even mirth of the people. n which
time they never entered into any grave and serious
debate, that might tend to any settlement, but
generally expressed great sharpness and animosity
' against the clergy, and against all learning, out of
* Dugdale's View of the Troubles in Englend, p. 409.
363 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL. -
which they thought the clergy had grown, and
still would grow. There were now no bishops
for them to be angry with: they had already
reduced all that order to the lowest distress.
But their quarrel was against all who had called
themselves ministers, and who, by being so called,
received tithes and respect from their neighbours.
They looked upon the function itself to be anti-
christian, and the persons to be burdensome to
the people; and the requiring, and payment of
tithes, to be absolute judaism, ‘and they thought fit
that they should be abolished together. And that
there might not for the time to come be any race
of people who might revive those pretences, they
. proposed, that all lands belonging to the univer-
sities, and colleges in those universities, might be
sold, and the monies that should arise thereby,
be disposed for the public service, and to ease the.
people from the payment of taxes and contribu-
. tions." * |
After a session of nearly six months, little
or nothing had been done, besides establish-
ing the legal solemnization of marriage by ‘the
civil magistrate, on the 12th of December, 1653.
* Hist. of the Rebellion, vol. iii, b. 14, p. 484.
Neal, Harris, and some others say, that no such proposals
were made in this parliament ; but the authority of such men as
Dugdale, Clarendon, and Mr. Eachard, is so respectable, that it
is unjust to tax them with falsehoods.
PROTECTORATE. . 369
Some of them, who were in Cromwell’s secret,
rose up, and said that men of their abilities were
not equal to the weight of government; and there-
fore proposed a dissolution of themselves, and a
re-delivery of their authority into the hands from
which they had it. This motion was no sooner
made, than approved and executed. Cromwell
and his council of officers were no sooner invested
with the sovereign power, than they planned a
new form of government. The supreme authority
should be placed in Cromwell, who should have
the title of Lord Protector of the Common-
wealth of England, Scotland and Ireland, and
should be assisted by a council of one and twenty
persons. The protector was installed with great
magnificence, not much inferior to a coronation,
on the 16th of December, 1653.
In the instrument of goverüment drawn by the
council of officers, when Cromwell was invested
with the protectorship, we find the following
articles respecting religion : viz. '* That the chris- -
tian religion, contained in the Scriptures, be held
forth and recommended as the public profession
of these nations; that as soon as may be, a pro-
vision less subject to contention and more certain
than the present, be made for the maintenance of
ministers; and that till such provision be made,
the present maintenance continues. "That none
be compelled to conform to the public religion by
Bb |
370 LIFE OF: BISHOP HALL.
penalties or otherwise, but that endeavours be
used to win them by sound doctrine, and the
example of a good conversation. . That such as
profess faith in God by Jesus Christ, though
differing in judgment from the doctrine, worship,
or discipline, publicly held forth, shall not be
restrained from, but shall be protected in the
profession of their faith and exercise of their
religion, so as they abuse not this liberty to the
civil injury of others, and to the actual disturbance
of the public peace on their parts; provided this
liberty be not extended to’ popery, nor prelacy,
nor to such as, under a profession of Christ, hold
forth and practise licentiousness. "That all laws,
statutes, and ordinances —contrary to the afore-
said liberty, shall be esteemed null and: veid."* ..
Thus a legal toleration’ was! granted to all
errors, heresies, and sectaries wbatever, and. was
denied to nothing but ‘popery,: prelacy, and .smmo-
rality, which three were put upon a level.f * It
was familiar," says Dr. Walker, ** with:them (as in
truth it was with most of the writings, sermons,
discourses, orders, and resolves of parliament, and
other public acts of these times) to join popery
and prelacy together, and sometimes to rank it
* Dugdale,. p. 416. |
+ Neal says, that in this respect this instrument of government
was '* undoubtedly faulty.” Hist. of the Puritans, vol. iv, p. 80.
INDULGENCE TO THE CLERGY. 371
with every thing else that was odious or detes-
table,” as particularly when in Jan. 1654, * the
parliament debating the point of liberty of con-
science, gravely resolved to allow it to all who
should not maintain Atheism, Popery, PRELACY,
Profaneness, or any damnable heresy.” *
Though episcopacy was totally abolished, yet
the assembly of the adherents of the church were
connived at: it must be allowed that the members
of the church of England had at this time much
. more favor and ihdulgence than under the parlia-
ment. Several of the clergy publicly exercised
their ministry, without the fetters of oaths, sub-
scriptions, or engagements. Dr. Robert Hall, the
eldest son of Bishop Hall, was permitted to keep
. the rectory of Clystheydon, Devon. “all the time
of the usurpation, and there continued a great
patron and supporter of the sequestered clergy.”
Dr. George Hall, another of Bishop Hall's sons,
afterwards bishop of Chester, was allowed to
preach towards the end of the usurpation, at St.
Bartholomew's Exchange, and at St. Botolph’s
Aldersgate, London. When he was sequestered
from his preferment in Cornwall, he would have
kept a small school for his subsistence, but he
was not permitted to do it. Dr. George Wilde,
* during some part of the usurpation, kept up a
* Sufferings of the Clergy, part i, p. 9.
Bb2 EE
372 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
religious meeting for the loyalists in Fleet-street,
where the whole service of the church of England
was constantly and solemnly performed.” Dr.
John Pearson, afterwards bishop .of Chester in
1650, was minister of St. Clement's Eastcheap,
where he preached the substance of his celebrated
Exposition of the Creed.* Several of the bishops,
who had been kept from public services by the
covenant and the engagement, preached again
publicly, as Archbishop Usher, Bishop Brown-
rigge, and others: Bishop Hall also preached and
"published some sermons about this time.
Bishop Kennet is pleased to give this testimony
to the liberality of Cromwell in this respect: * it
is certain that the protector was for liberty, and —
the utmost latitude to all parties, so far as con-
sisted with the peace and safety of his person
. and government; and therefore he was never
jealous of any cause or sect on the account. of
heresy and falsehood, but on his wiser accounts
of political peace and quiet: and even the
prejudice he had against the episcopal party
was more for their being royalists, than for being
of the good old church. Dr. Gunning, afterwards
bishop of Ely, kept a conventicle in London, in
as opeu a manner as dissenters did after the
* Walker’s Sufferings of the Clergy, part ii, pp. 26, 26,
61, 117. i :
ANOTHER PARLIAMENT. 373
toleration; and so did several other episcopal
divines.” *
The time was now arrived, when, by the
instrument of government, the protector.. was
obliged to call a parliament; he accordingly issued
writs, omitting many of the small boroughs and
inserting large towns in their stead, and making
more members for counties in proportion to. their
extent.. This was an alteration generally expected
as proper to be made with more authority, and in
-better times. The only restriction laid upon the
election of members to this parliament, was; that
none who had been in arms on the side of the
king, nor their sons, should be capable of being
elected. . This parliament met with the usual for-
‘malities, Sept. 3, 1654; and Cromwell made them
a long speech. But the commons no sooner
entered upon business, than they took into con-
sideration the form of the present government,
‘and the authority which had convened them.
. This was warmly debated for eight days together,
with many severe reflections upon the person of
the protector. . All the influence of his party could
not. divert the debate. Cromwell,. mortified and
* Conform. Plea, part iv, p. 610. Neal’s Hist. of the
Puritans, vol, iv, p.137. Warner's Eccles. Hist. of England,
. vol, ii, p. 586. See also Walker's Sufferings of the Clergy,
part ii, p. 142.
-
374 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
exasperated exceedingly, sent for the commons to
the painted chamber; and reprehending them for
their freedom. in debating on the instrument of
government, the fundamentals of which, he said,
were never to be called in question, he told them
that he found it necessary to appoint a recognition
— of the authority .by which they were made a
parliament, before they went any more into the
house. So when they returned, they found a .
guard placed at the door, denying entrance to all
who would not subscribe the: following recogni-
tion: ‘I do hereby freely promise and engage, to
be true and faithful to the Lord Protector of the
commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland,
and will not propose or give my consent to alter
the government, as it is settled in one single
person, and a parliament.” |
"Though this was signed by about three hundred
members, yet they looked upon it as a violation
of the privileges of parliament ; and were so far
from settling his highness in the government, in
the way he wished for, that after five months
spent in wrangling and ill humour, the time they
were required to sit according to the instrument
of government, he sent for them again, and in a
tedious, embarrassed, angry speech, dissolved
them, without confirming any actthey had passed.*
* See Dugdale's View, pp. 423-429.
TRIERS. : 375
Though the presbyterian discipline was now at
a low ebb, it was still the established religion of
the nation; .but. the affairs of religion at this
period were in a more unsettled, distracted con-
dition, if possible, than those of the state. The
approbation of public ministers had been hitherto
reserved to the several presbyteries in city and
country ; but Cromwell, observing some inconve-
nience in this method, and not willing to trust the
qualifications of. candidates, and the admission
into benefices, to the presbyteries only, who
might refuse all but their own party, by an ordi-
nauce. of council appointed commissioners of
both denominations, with eight or nine laymen.
Any five of which had power to approve, but no
number under nine to reject a person as unquali-
fied. The.committee, in their approbation, gave
‘them aii instrument sealed with a common seal,
equiralent to letters of institution and induction,
which put them into full possession of the livings
to which they. were nominated, or elected. But
as there was no standard, or rule of examination:
for the: T'riers, as they were called, to go by, they
either examined the candidates as to their
advances only in grace and the time of their con-
version; or if they questioned them in any parts
of learning, it was only in the system of Calvin,
which was made the door of admission into all
charch preferments, and they exercised a power
376 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
greater than that of the bishops:* . In this way
many illiterate laymen, mechanics, and. pedlars
were admitted into livings, and persons of.greater
merit were rejected. |
In order to prevent any of the sequestered
clergy to get admission, another ordinance was
passed by the protector and his council, requiring
these commissioners, “ not to give admission to
any ministers who had been ejected for delin-
quency, till by experience of their conformity. and
submission to the present government, his high-
ness and his council should be satisfied .of. their
fitness to be admitted into ecclesiastical promo-
tions." T |
Many complaints were made, and as it appears
very justly, respecting these commissioners, for
their partiality to the independents, anabaptists,
fifth monarchy men, and separatists, and against
Arminians, and the loyal clergy. . Accusations
were. brought against them for bribery, and. other
corrupt practices ; but such were probably rather
founded in resentment or malice, than in truth.
_As there was now an insurrection intended and
. attempted for the restoration of the king, and it
.* See a specimen of such examinations in Walker's Sufferings
of the Clergy, parti, pp. 176, 177.
+ Scobel, p.366. Neal’s Hist. of the Puritans,’ vol. iv, p.
104. Warner's Eccles, Hist. of England, vol. ii, p. 085, &c.
EXTREME DISTRESS OF THE CLERGY. |. 377
was thought that many of the clergy were stirring
up the people to that purpose; in order to humble
them still further, and to keep them within the
bounds of their spiritual function, another, ordi-
nance was passed by the .protector and. his
council, Aug. 28, 1654, appointing lay commis-
sioners in every county, with ten or more minis.
ters for their assistants, and empowering any five
to. call, before them public preachers, lecturers,
parsons, vicars, curates, and schoolmasters, who
might be reputed scandalous, ignorant, and insuffi-
cient or negligent; and to examine into: their
.offences upon oath of witnesses, and if they were
found guilty, they were ejected, a fifth of their
benefice or income being allowed for the support
of their wives and children.* |
The venerable and apostolic church of England
‘was now reduced to the most deplorable state.
. The injunctions of the above ordinance reduced
the few remaining loyal clergy to the extremity of
distress and oppression. Some few of the loyal
_clergy had been connived at during some periods |
of the usurpation in the use of the liturgy, both in
private and in public; but now by this cruel ordi-
nance, such as had read or used the common prayer
book in. public since Jan. 1653--4, or should at any
: * Walker’s Sufferings of the Clergy, part i p. 178, &c.
Neal's Hist. of the Puritans, vol.iv, p. 109. |
378 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
time hereafter do the same, were to be accounted
scandalous, and ‘were to be summoned before this
inquisition-court established in every county!
Thus, effectual measures were adopted “to tum
the few remaining loyal clergy out of their livings,
and to prevent their getting into any others for the
future." : Providence, however, directed many of
them to procure subsistence for themselves and
families by being chaplains and tutors in private
families, and ‘by: keeping schools. But as they
were accused of being turbulent, of publishing -
libels ágainst the present government, and of
threatening to'assassinate the protector, he there-
fore determined to crush them, and accordingly
an order was published, Nov. 24, ** that no per-
sons, after Jan. Ist, 1655--6; shall keep in their
houses or families, as chaplains or schoolmasters,
. for the education of their children, any sequestered
or ejected minister, fellow of a college, or school-
master, nor permit any of their children to be
taught by such. That no person, who hath been
sequestered or ejected out of any benefice; college,
or school, for delinquency or scandal, shall keep
any school either public or private, nor any person,
who after that time, shall be ejected for the afore-
said causes. ‘That no such persons shall preach
in any public place, or at any private meeting of
any other persons than those of his own family,
nor shall administer baptism, orthe Lord's supper,
MISERIES OF THE LOYAL CLERGY. 379
nor marry any persons, nor use the book of
common prayer, or the forms of prayer therein
contained, upon pain éf being prosecuted, accor-
ding to the orders lately published by his highness
and council, for securing the peace of the:com-
monwealth. Nevertheless his highness declares,
that towards such of the said persons as have,
since their ejectment or sequestration, given, or
hereafter shall give, a real testimony of their god-
liness, ‘and good affection to the present govern-
ment, so much tenderness shall be used, as may
consist with the safety and.good of the nation."*
** The severities of this declaration," says Dr.
Walker, '* seem to have completed the miseries of
‘the loyal ‘clergy, and were, on this account, more
the effect of pure and unmixed cruelty, than any of
the former ordinances. Forasmuch as the poor
‘livelihoods now taken from the royalists, were of
such a nature, that they could not be distributed
(as the rich'livings had been) among their own
clergy. Nor were they of so much consideration,
"as to move either ‘their envy, or their covetous-
ness. Several of the former ordinances had indeed
ejected them from the schools, as well as the
livings, and taken care that they should not be
employed. again in either of them. But. this
* Harleian Miscellany, vol. v, p. 249. Walker's Suffering
of the Clergy, part. i, p. 194.
380 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
declaration first hunted them out of the private
families of such as were willing to entertain them
for chaplains or tutors. And, though the peace
of the kingdom was made the pretence, the. plain
effect. was, the starving both of themselves and
their families, as far as the directions. and orders
of this declaration could do it."* Neal and
Harris, both not very friendly to the loyal clergy,
acknowledge the cruelty of this ordinance: the
former says, “This was a severe and terrible
order upon the episcopalians, and absolutely
unjustifiable in itself:" the words of the latter
are the following: This ‘‘ edict. against the epis-
copal clergy was very cruel, as it deprived them
in a good measure of their maintenance, and of
their liberty of worshipping God according as
appeared best to their own understanding.". “ It
would be useless to spend words in exposing the
cruelty of this declaration. Persecution is written
on the face of it; nor is it capable of a vindi-
cation." T | |
These last degrees of extremity, to which the
* Sufferings of the Clergy, part. i, p.194.
It is also said that Cromwell took care that the Loyalists
should have no employment at home or abroad; that they
should have nothing to subsist by ; and also enacted, that it
should be penal, if they went about to beg!! Ibid. supra.
_ t See Hist. of the Puritans, vol. iv, p. 186, and Life of
Oliver Cromwell, p. 429, ed. 1814. -
PETITIONS TO THE PROTECTOR. 381
injunctions of this declaration reduced the loyal
clergy, compelled some of their brethren, to ven-
ture themselves before Cromwell in behalf of those
miserable sufferers. Dr. Gauden presented a
petitionary remonstrance to the protector against
this order: and some of the most considerable
episcopal clergy on the issuing forth of this decree,
applied to Archbishop Usher to use his interest
with the protector: “that as he granted liberty
of conscience to almost all sorts of religions, so
the episcopal divines might have the same freedom
of serving God in their private congregations,
(since they were not permitted the public
- churches) according to the liturgy of the church
of England; and that neither the ministers, nor
those that frequented that service, might be any
more hindered. or disturbed by his soldiers. So
according to their desires, continues Dr. Parr,
the biographer of Archbishop Usher, ** he went
and used his utmost endeavours with Cromwell,
for the takiug off this restraint, which was at last
promised, (though with some difficulty) that they
should not be molested, provided they meddled
not with any matters relating to his government :"
but when the primate went to him again, to get
this promise ratified and put into writing, he found
the protector under the hands of his surgeon, who
was dressing a great boil that he had then upon
his breast. He desired the primate to sit down,
382 ' LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
and said he would speak with him.when the
dressing was over. Whilst-it was doing, he said
to the primate, ‘if this core, (pointing to the boil)
were once out, I should quickly be well.’ To
which the primate replied, * I doubt the core lies
deeper; there is a core at the heart that must be
taken out, or else it will not be well.” ‘ Ah!
replied Cromwell, seemingly unconcerned, * so
there is indeed,’ and sighed. But when the pri-
mate began to speak of the business he came
about, be answered to this effect, ‘that he had
since better considered it, having advised with
his council; who thought it not safe for him to
grant liberty .of conscience to those sort of men,
who are restless and implacable enemies to him
and his government,’ and so took his leave with
good words and outward civility. The Lord
Primate seeing it was in vain to urge it any further,
said: little more to him, but returned to his
lodgings very much troubled, and concerned that
his. endeavours had met with no better success.
When he was in his chamber, he said to some of
his. relations, and Dr. Parr who came to visit him,
‘¢ This false man hath broken his word with me,
and refuses to perform what he promised. Well,
he will have little cause to glory in his wicked- :
ness, for he will.not continue long. The king
will return : though I shall not live to see it, you
may. The government, both.in church aud state,
SONS OF THE CLERGY. 383
is in confusion, The papists are advancing their
projects, and making such advantages as will
hardly be prevented." *
‘‘This truly venerable primate,” says Harris,
* had reason to be out of humour. For whatever
might have been the practices of many of the
episcopal clergy, it is certain there were amongst
them wise, pious, learned, and peaceable men,
who merited a very different treatment from this
which was given them by Oliver.” However it
has been before mentioned that some worthy
episcipal clergy were copnived at, or permitted to
officiate in the churches, and probably all of them
did not suffer inconveniences on account of this
severe declaration. Jt must be allowed that
some small degree of tenderness was used towards
some, though there.is no doubt but many innocent
and worthy men must have received very hard
measure. T
The charitable society. for the relief of the
widows and children,of clergymen, since known
by the name.of the Corporation for the Sons of the
Clergy, commenced in the year 1655, The first
sermon was preached by the Rev. George Hail,
M. A. son of Bishop Hall, then minister of St.
Botolph’s, Aldersgate, afterwards chaplain to King
* Dr. Parr's Life of Usher, p. 75. u
T See Harris's Life of Oliver Cromwell, pp. 430, 431.
384 ' LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.»
Charles II. Archdeacon of Canterbury and Bishop
of Chester. The sermon was entitled, * Gop's
APPEARING FOR THE TRIBE OF LEVI, improved
in a sermon preached at St. Pauls, Nov. 8, 1655,
to the sons of ministers then solemnly assembled,
from Numb. xvii, 8. THE rop OF AARON BUD-
DED, AND BLOOMED BLOSSOMS, AND YIELDED
ALMONDS. ‘The preacher's design was to enforce
the necessity and usefulness of asettled ministry ;
though his sermon discovered him to be a
minister of the church of England, yet it breathed
moderation and christian charity: ** Let those
ill-invented terms," said he, * whereby we have
been distinguished from each other, be swal-
lowed up in that name which will lead us. hand
m hand to heaven—the name of CHRISTIANS.
If my stomach, or any of yours, rise against the
name of brotherly communion, which may consist
with our several principles retained, not differing
in substantials, God take down that stomach, and
make us see how much we are concerned to keep
the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. Why
should some, in the height of their zeal for a
liturgy, suppose there can be no service of God
but where that is used? Why should others,
again, think their piety concerned and trespassed
upon, if I prefer, and think fit to use a set form?
There must be abatements and allowances of
each other; a coming down from our punctilios,
SONS OF THE CLERGY. 385
or we shall never give up a good account to God.
This noble charity from that time gradually
increased, by collections at annual sermons, and
other large confributions and donations, and was
established by charter in the reign of Charles IT.
and so the society became a body corporate: and
their present flourishing condition is well known
to the whole nation.*
From this time to the: death of Bishop Hall in
the following year, and;indeed to the restoration, -
the general calamity continued.
* Neal's Hist. of the Puritans, vol. iv, PP. 142,149. War-
ner's Eccles, Hist. of England, vol. ii, p. 586
CHAPTER XI.
As a review of the proceedings of the lang
parliament against the church, and of the suf-
ferings of the bishops and. clergy, it may be
proper here to annex
BISHOP HALLS HARD MEASURE.
* Nothing could be more plain, than that, on
the call of this parliament, and before, there was a
general plot and resolution of the faction to alter
the government of the church especially. The
height and insolency of some church governors, as
was conceived, and the ungrounded imposition of
some innovations on the churches both of Scot-
land and England, gave a fit hint to the project.
* |n the vacancy, therefore, before the sum-
mons, and immediately after it, there was great
working secretly for the designation and election,
as of knights and burgesses, so especially, beyond
all former use, of the clerks of convocation:
when now the clergy were stirred up to contest
with and oppose their diocesans, for the choice
HARD MEASUBE. 387
of such men as were most inclined to the favour
of an. alteration.
** 'T'he parliament was no sooner sat, than, many
vehement speeches were made against established
church government, and enforcement of extirpá-
tion both root and branch.
** And, because it was not fit to set. upon all at
once, the resolution was to begin with those
bishops which had subscribed to.the canons then
lately published, upon the shuttiug up of. the for-
mer parliament: whom they would first have had
accused of treason; but that not appearing.
feasible, they thought best to indict them of very
bigh crimes and offences against the king, the
parliament, and kingdom: whicb was prosecuted
with great earnestness by some. prime lawyers in
the house of commons, and entertained with
like fervency by some. zealous lords in the house
of peers; every of those particular canons being
pressed to the most envious and dangerous
height that was possible: the archbishop of York
(was designed for the report) aggravating Mr.
_Maynard’s criminations to the utmost, not with-
out some interspersions of his own. The counsel
of the accused bishops gave in such a demurring
answer, as stopped the mouth of that heinous
indictment.
* When this prevailed not, it was contrived to
draw petitions accusatory from many parts: of
Ce 2
388 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
the kingdom against episcopal government;. and
the promoters of the petitions were entertained
with great respects: whereas the many petitions
of the opposite part, though subscribed with many
thousand hands, were slighted and disregarded.
* Witbal, the rabble of London, after their
petitions cunningly and upon other pretences pro-
cured, were.stirred up to come to.the houses
personally to crave justice both against the earl
of Strafford, first; and, then, against the arch-
bishop of Canterbury; and, lastly, against the.
whole order of bishops ; which, coming at first
unarmed, were checked by some well-willers,
and easily persuaded to gird on their. rusty.
swords; and, so accoutred, came by thousands
to the houses, filling all the outer rooms, offering
foül abuses to the bishops as they passed, crying
out * No bishops, no bishops!' and, at last, after
divers days' assembling, grown to that height of
fury, that many of them, whereof Sir Richard.
Wiséman professed (though to his cost) to be.
captain, came with resolution of some violent
courses, insomuch that many swords were drawn
hereon at Westminster, and the rout. did not. stick
openly to profess that they would pull .the
bishops in pieces. Messages were sent down to
them from the lords. They still held firm, both
to the place and their bloody resolutions. It
now grew to be torch light. One of the lords.
the Marquis of Hertford, came up to the bishops'
‘HARD MEASURE, , — 389
form, told us, that we were in great: danger,
advised us to take some course for our own
safety; and, being desired to tell us what he
thought was the. best way, counselled us to con-
tinue in the parliament house all that night:
‘For,’ saith he, ‘these people vow they will
watch you at your. going out, and will search
every coach for you with torches, so as you
cannot escape. Hereupon the house of lords was
‘moved for some order for the preventing their
mutinous and riotous meetings. Messages were
sent. down ‘to the house of commons to this
purpose more than once: nothing was effected ;
but, for the present (forsomuch as all the danger -
was at the rising of the house) it was earnestly.
desired of'the lords that some care might be
taken of our safety. The motion was received
by.some lords with a smile. Some other lords,
as the earl of Manchester, undertook the protec-
tion of the archbishop of York and his company
(whose shelter I went under) to-their lodgings.
The rest, some of them by their long stay, others
by secret and far-fetched passages, escaped home.
* It was not for us to venture any more to the
house without some better assurance. Upon our
resolved forbearance therefore, the archbishop of
York sent for us to his lodging at Westminster;
lays before us the perilous condition we were
in; advises for remedy, except we meant utterly
to abandon our right and to desert our station in
390 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
i
parliament, to petition both bis Majesty and the
parliament, that, since we were legally called by
his Majesty’s writ to give our attendance in par-
liament, we might be secured, in the performance
of óur duty and service, against those dangers that
threatened us; and, withal, to protest against any
such acts as should be made during the time of
our forced absence: for which he assured us
there were many precedents in former parlia-
ments; and which, if we did not, we should
betray the trust committed to us by his Majesty,
and shamefully betray and abdicate the due right
both of ourselves and successors.
** 'T'o this purpose, in our presence, he drew up
the said petition and protestation; avowing it to
be legal, just, and agreeable to all former pro-
ceedings; and, being fair written, sent it to our
several lodgings for our hands: which we accor-
dingly subscribed, intending yet to have had some
further consultation concerning the delivering and
whole carriage of it. But, ere we could suppose
it to be.in any hand but his own, the fitst news
we heard was, that there were messengers
addressed to fetch us in to the parliament, on an
. accusation of' high treason. For, whereas -this
paper was to have been delivered, first to -his
Majesty's secretary; and, after perusal by him,
to his ‘Majesty; and, after, from his Majesty:to
the parliament ; and, fór that purpose, to the Lord
HARD MEASURE. 391
Keeper, the Lord' Littleton, who was the speaker
of the house of peers ; all these professed not to
have perused it at all: but the said Lord Keeper,
willing enough to take this advantage of engratiat-
ing himself with the house of commons and the
faction, to which he knew himself sufficiently
obnoxious, finding what use might be made of it
by prejudicate: minds, reads: the same openly in
the house of the lords: and, when he found some
of the faction apprehensive enough of miscon-
struction, aggravates the matter, as highly offen-
sive arid: of dangerous consequence; and, there-
upon, not without much heat.and vehemence, and
with an ill preface, it 1s sent down to the house of
commons: where it was entertained heinously;
Glynne, with a fall mouth, crying it up for no less
than. a-high treason; and some comparing, yea
preferring, it to thé powder plot.
46 We, poor souls, who little thought that we had
done any thing that might deserve. a chiding, are
now called to our knees at the bar, and charged
severally with high treason; being not a little
astonished at the suddenness of this crimination,
compared with the perfect innocence of our own
intentions, which were only to bring us to our due
places in parliament with safety and speed,
without the least purpose of any man’s offence.
* But,. now, traitors we are in all the haste, and
must be dealt with accordingly-: for, on January
392 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
30th,* in all the extremity of frost, at eight o’clock
in the dark evening, are we voted to the Tower:
only two of our number had the favor of the black
rod, -by reason of their age; which, though
desired. by a noble lord on my behalf, would not
be yielded. Wherein I acknowledge and bless
the gracious providence of my God: for, had I
been gratified, I had been undone both in body
and purse; the rooms being strait, and the
expense beyond the reach of my estate.
“The news of this our crime and imprisonment
soon flew over the city; and was entertained
by. our well-willers, with ringing of bells and
bonfires: who now gave us up, not without great
triumph, for lost men ; railing on our perfidious-
ness, and. adjudging us to what foul deaths
they pleased. And what .scurrile and malicious
pamphlets were scattered abroad, throughout the
kingdom and in foreign parts, blazoning our
infamy, and exaggerating our treasonable practices!
What insultations of our adversaries was here !
* Being caged sure enough in the Tower, the
faction had now fair opportunities to work their
own designs. They, therefore, taking the advan-
tage of our restraint, renew that bill of theirs,
* It should be December 30, for the date of the Letter from
the Tower is January 24, 1641. See Bishop Hall's Works,
vol. i, p. liii, and p. 398 of this volume, -
HARD MEASURE. . 393
which had been twice before rejected since the
beginning of this session, for taking away ,the
votes of the bishops in parliament; and, in a very
'thin house, easily passed it: which once conde-
scended unto, I know not by what strong impor-
tunity, his Majesty's assent was drawn from him
thereunto. |
* We now, instead of looking after our wonted
honor, must bend our thoughts on the guarding of
ourlives; which were, with no small eagerness,
pursued by the violent agents of the faction.
Their sharpest wits and greatest lawyers were
employed to advance our impeachment to the
height, but the more they looked into the busi-
ness, the less crime could they find to fasten on
us: insomuch as one of their oracles, being
demanded his judgment concerning the fact, pro-
fessed to them, they might with as good reason
accuse us of adultery.* Yet, still, there are we
fast: only, upon petition to the lords, obtaining this
favor, that we might have counsel assigned us:
which after much reluctation, and many menaces
from the commons against any man of all the
commoners of ‘England that should dare to be
seen to plead in this case against the representa-
tive body of the commons, was granted us. The
lords assigned us five very worthy lawyers, which
* See Walker's Sufferings of the Clergy, parti, p. 7.
394 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
were nominated to them by us. What trouble
and charge it was to procure those eminent and
much employed counsellors to come to the
Tower to us; and to observe the strict laws of
the place, for the time .of their ingress, regress,
and stay ; it is not hard to judge.
** After we had lain some weeks there, however,
the house of commons, on the first tender of our
impeachment, had desired we might be brought
to a speedy trial; yet now, finding belike how
little ground they had for so high an accusation,
they began to slack their pace, and suffered us
rather to languish under the fear of so dreadful
arraignment: insomuch as nów we are fain to
petition the lords that we might be brought to our
trial.
* The day was set: several summons were sent
unto us: the lieutenant had his warrant to bring us
to the bar: our impeachment was severally read:
we pleaded ‘not guilty,’ modo et formá; and
desired speedy proceedings: which were accerd-
ingly promised, but not too hastily performed.
* After long expectation, another day was
appointed for the prosecution of this high charge.
The lieutenant brought us again to the bar; but,
with what shoutings, and exclamations, and
furious expressions of the. enraged multitudes, it
is-not easy to apprehend. Being thither brought,
and severally charged on our knees, and having
HARD MEASURE. 395
given our negative answers to every particular,
two bishops, London and Winchester, were called
in as witnesses against us,. as im that point,
whether they apprehended any such cause of fears
in the tumults assembled, as that. we were in
danger of. our lives in coming to the parliament:
who seemed to incline to a favourable report of
the perils threatened; though one of them was
convinced out of his own mouth, from the relations
himself had made at the archbishop of York's
lodging. After this, Wild aud. ‘Glynne made
fearful declamations at the bar against us;
agcravating all the circumstances of our pretended
treason to the highest pitch. Our-counsel were
all ready at: the bar to plead for. us, in: answer of
their. clamorous and envious suggestions: but it
was answered, that it was now too late, we should
have anether day: which day, to this day, never
came.
**'The circumstances of that day's hearing were
mere grievous to us than the substance: for we
were all thronged so miserably in that strait room
before the bar, by reason that the whole house of
commons would be there to see the prizes of
their champions played, that we stood the whole
afternoon im no.small torture ; sweating and strug-
gling with a.merciless multitude; till, being dis-
missed, we were exposed to a new and greater
danger. . For:now, in the dark, we must to the
396 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
Tower; by barge, as.we came: and must shoot
. the bridge, with. no small peril. That God, under
whose merciful protection we are, returned us to
our safe custody.
. 'There now we lay some weeks longer, expect-
ing the summons ‘for our counsels’ answer ; but,
instead .thereof, our merciful adversaries, well
finding how sure they would be: foiled: in that
unjust charge of treason, now, under.pretences of
remitting the height of rigor, wave their former
impeachment of treason.against us, and fall.on:an
accusation of high misdemeanors: in that.our
protestation, and will have us prosecuted.as guilty
of-a Premunire: although, as we conceive, the
law hath ever. been in the parliamentary proceed-
ings, that, if a man were impeached, as of treason,
being the highest crime, the accusant must hold
him to the proof of the charge, and: may not fall
to any meaner impeachment on failing of the
higher.
** But, in this case of ours, it fell out otherwise:
for, although the lords had openly promised us,
that nothing should be done against us,.till we
and our counsel were heard in our defence; yet
the next news we heard was, the house of. com-
mons had.drawn up a bill against us, wherein
they declared us to be delinquents of a very high
* nature, and had thereon desired to.have it enacted
that all our spiritual means should be taken
HARD. MEASURE. 397
‘away: only there should be a yearly allowance
to every bishop for-his maintenance, according to
a proportion by ‘them set down; wherein they
were pleased that my share should come to four
hundred pounds per annum. This bill:was sent
up to the lords, and by them also passed : and
there hath' ever since lain.
* This being done, after some weeks more; find-
ing the Tower, besides the restraint, chargeable;
we petitioned the lords, that we might be admitted
to bail, and have liberty to return to our homes.
The Earl of Essex moved: the lords assented,
took our bail, sent to the lieutenant of the Tower
for our discharge. How glad were we to fly out
of our cage!
* No sooner was I got to my lodging, than I
thought to take a little fresh air in St. James's
Park ;: and, in my. return to. my lodging in the
Dean's Yard, passing through Westminster Hall,
was saluted by divers of my parliament acquaint- -
ance, :and welcomed: to. my liberty: whereupon
some, that looked upon me with an evil eye, run
into the house, and complained that the bishops
were let loose: which, it seems, was not: well
taken by the house of commons; who presently -
sent a kind of-expostulation to the’ lords, that
they had dismissed.so heinous offenders without
their knowledge and consent.
Searce-had I rested me in my lodging, when
398 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
there. comes.a messenger to me with the sad
news, of sending me and the.rest of my brethren
the bishops back to the Tower agains from
whence we came, thither we must go; and thither
I went with.a heavy, but I thank God, not impa-
tient heart.
* After we had continued there some six weeks
longer, and earnestly petitioned to return to our
several charges, we were on five thousand pound
bond dismissed ; with a clause of revocation at a
short warning, if occasion should require.
“Thus having spent the time betwixt new year's
even and whitsuntide in those safe walls, where
we by turns preached' every Lord's day. to a large
auditory of citizens, we disposed of ourselves to
the places of our several abode.
* For myself, addressing myself to Norwich,
whither it was his: Majesty's pleasure to remove
me, I was.at the first received with more respect
than: in. such . times I could.,have expected.
. There I preached,. the day after my arrival, to a
numerous and attentive people: neither. was
sparing of my pains in this. kind ever since; till
the times, growing. every day more impatient of
a bishop, threatened my silencing, .
* There, though with.some secret murmurs of
disaffected persons, I enjoyed peace till the ordi-
nance of sequestration came -forth, which was in
the latter end of March following; thep, when
HARD MEASURE. 399
I was in hope of receiving the profits-of the fore-
going half year for the maintenance of my family,
were all my rents stopped and diverted; and,
in the April following, came the sequestrators,
viz. Mr. Sotherton, Mr. Tooley, Mr. Rawley, Mr.
Greenwood, &c. to the palace; and. told . me,
that, by virtue of an ordinance of parliament,
they must seize on the palace, and all the estate
I had, both real and personal; and, accordingly;
sent certain. men appomted by: them,. whereof
one had been burnt in "the hand for:the mark of
his truth, to apprise all the goods ‘that: were-in
the house: which they accordingly executed: with
all diligent. severity ; not leaving so much as.a
dozen of trenchers,. or my childrenis pictures,
out of their curious inventory. Yea, they would
have apprised our very wearing clothes, had. not
Alderman Tooley:and ‘Sheriff Rawley; .to whom
I sent to require their:judgment.:concerning the
ordinance in this point; declared their opinion: to
the:contrary.
‘These goods, both library and household stuff
of all ‘kinds, were appointed ‘to be exposed to
public sale, Much inquiry there was: wheh ‘the
goods should be brought to-the: market; but, in
the mean time, Mrs. Good win, :a.:religious good
gentlewoman, whom: yet we had never known or
seen, being moved ^with compassion, very kindly
offered to lay'dówn to the: sequestrators that
400 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
whole sum which the goods were valued at; and.
was pleased to leave them in our hands for our
use, till we might be able to re-purchase them:
which she did accordingly, and had the goods
formally delivered to her by Mr. Smith and Mr.
Greenwood, two sequestrators. As for the books,
several stationers looked on them; but were not
forward to buy them: at last, Mr. Cook, a worthy
divine of this diocese, gave bond to the sequestra-
tors, to pay to them the whole sum whereat they
were set: which was afterwards satisfied out. of
that poor pittance that was allowed me for my
maintenance. As for my evidences, they required
them from me. I denied them, as not holding
myself bound to deliver them. They nailed and
sealed up the door, and took such as they found
with me.
* But, before this, the first noise that I heard of
my trouble was, that, one morning, before my
servants were up, there came to my gates one
Wright, a London trooper, attended with others,
requiring entrance: threatening, if they were not
admitted, to break open the gates: whom I
found, at my first sight, struggling with one of my
servants for a pistol which he had in his hand.. I
demanded his business at that unseasonable time.
He told me, he came to search for arms and
ammunition, of which I must be disarmed. I
. told him I had only two muskets in the house,
HARD MEASURE. . 401
and no other military provision.. He, not resting
upon my word, searched round about the house,
looked into the chests and trunks, examined the
vessels in the cellar. Finding no other warlike
furniture, he asked me what horses I had, for his
commission was to take them also. I told him
how poorly I was stored, and that my age would
not allow me to travel on foot. In conclusion, he
took one horse, for the present: and such accompt
of another, that he did highly expostulate with
me afterwards, that I bad otherwise disposed of
him. |
. * Now not only my rents present, but the arrear-
ages of the former years which I had in favor
forborne to some tenants, . being treacherously
confessed to the sequestrators, were by them
called for, and taken from me. Neither was there
any course at all. taken for my maintenance.. I
therefore addressed myself to the committee sit-
ting here at Norwich; and desired them to give
order for some means, out of that large patrimony
of the church, to beallowed me. They all thought
it very just ; and, there being present Sir Thomas.
. Woodhouse and Sir John Potts, parliament men,
it was moved, and held fit by them and the rest,
that the proportion which the votes of the parlia-
ment bad pitched on, viz. four hundred pounds
per annum, should be allowed to me. My Lord
D d
402 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
of Manchester, who was then conceived to have
great power in matter of these sequestrations, was
moved herewith. He apprehended it very just
and reasonable; and wrote to the committee
here, to set out so many of the manors belonging
to this bishoprick, as should amount to the said
sum of four hundred pounds annually ; which was
answerably done, under the hands of the whole
table.
* And now. 1 well: hoped, I should yet havea
good competency of maintenance out of that
plentiful estate which I might have had: but
those hopes were no sooner conceived‘ than
dashed ; for, before I could gather up one
quarters rent, there comes down an order
from the committee -for sequestration’ “above,
under the hand of Sergeant" Wild the chairman,
procured by Mr. Miles Corbet, to’ inhibit any
such allowance; and telling our committee
here, that neither they, nor any other, had
power to allow me any thing ‘at all: but, if
my wife found herself to need a maintenance,
on her suit to the committee’ óf lords © and
commons, it might be granted that’ she should
have a fifth part; according to the: ordinance,
allowed for the sustentation of’ herself -and
her family. Hereupon she sends a petition up to
that committee ; which, - after a long delay, was
HARD MEASURE. : 403
admitted to be read, ‘endian order was granted for
the fifth part.* ^ -
" ** Bat: still the rents and revenues, both of my
spiritwal.and temporal: lands, ‘were taken up by
the sequestrators, ‘both in’ Norfolk, and. Suffolk,
and Essex, and we kept off from either allowance
or accompt.
+ Atlast, upon auch pressing, Beadle the solici-
tor, and Rust the eolléctor, brought ih an account
to the committee, such asit was; but so confused
and-perplexed, and so utterly unperfect, that we
could never come to knew what a fifth part
meant: but they ‘were content ‘that ‘3 should eat
my books, by setting off the sumi‘ etigaged for
them out of the fifth part. Mebritime, the syno-
dalis, both in Norfolk aud Suffolk,’ and: all the
spiritual profits: of the . diocese; were also kept
back : only ordinations and institdtions continued
awhile.
" * But after the covenant was appointed to, be
taken; and' was ‘generally swallowed of both
clergy and laity, my: power of ordination was,
‘with some strange violence, restrained: for when
I was gomg-.on in. my wonted coutse, which no
law or ordinance had inhibited, certain forward
‘volunteers in the city, banding together, stir up
* See Walker’s Sufferings of the Clergy, for a full account of
the fifth part allowed to delinquents, pp. 99-104, part i.
Dd2
404 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
the mayor and aldermen and sheriffs to call me to
an account for an open violation of their covenant.
*'To this purpose, divers of them came to my
gates at a very unseasonable time ; and, knocking
very vehemently, required to speak with the
Bishop. Messages were sent to them to know
their business: nothing would satisfy them but
. the Bishop's presence. At last, I came down to
them, and. demanded what the matter was: they
would have the gate opened, and then they would
tell me. l answered that I would know them
better first: if they had any thing to say to me, I
was ready to hear them. They told me they had
a writing to me, from Mr. Mayor, and some other
' of their magistrates. The paper contained both a
challenge of me for breaking the covenant, in
ordaining ministers; and, withal, required me to
give in the names of those, which were ordained
. by me both then and formerly since the covenant.
My answer was, that Mr. Mayor was much
abused by those who had misinformed him, and
drawn that paper from him; that I would the
next day give a full answer to the writing. They
moved that my answer might be by my personal
appearance at the Guildhall. I asked them when
they ever heard of a bishop of Norwich appearing
before a mayor. I knew mine own place ; and
would take that way of answer which I thought
fit; and so dismissed them, who had given out
. HARD MEASURE. | 405
that day, that had they known before of mine
ordaining, they would have pulled me and those
whom I had ordained out of the chapel by the
ears.
** While I received nothing, yet something was
required of me. "They were not ashamed, after
they had taken away and sold all my goods and
personal estate, to come to me for assessments
and monthly payments for that estate which they
had taken ; and took distresses from me, upon my
most just denial; and vehemently required me to
find the wonted arms of my predecessors, when
they had left me nothing.
* Many insolencies and affronts were, in all this
time, put upon us. One while, a whole rabble of
volunteers came to my gates late, when they were
locked up, and called for the porter to give them
entrance: which being not yielded, they.threat-
ened. to make by force; and, had not the said
gates been very strong, they had done it. Others
of them clambered over the walls, and would
come into my house: their errand, they said, was
to search for delinquents: what they would have
done I know not, had not we by a secret way
sent to raise the officers for our rescue. Another
while, the Sheriff Toftes and Alderman Linsey,
attended with many zealous followers, came into
my chapel, to look for superstitious pictures
and relics of idolatry ; and sent for me, to let me
x
406 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
know they found those witdows full of: images,
which were very offensive, and: must be demo-
lished.* I told them they were the pictures of
some ancient and worthy bishops, as St. Ambrose,
Austin, &c. It. was answered me, that, they
were sO. many .popes; and one younger. man
amongst the rest, (Townsend, as I perceived after-
wards) would take on him to defend thatievery
diocesan, bishop was pope. I answered him with
some scorn; and obtained leaye that: I might,
with the least loss and defacing of the windows,
give order for taking off that offence ; whieh I did,
by causing the heads of those pictures:to be taken
off, since I knew the bodies could not offend.
“There was not that care and-moderation used
in reformng the cathedral church bordering on
my palace. T - It is-no.other than tragical; to relate
the carriage of that furious sactilege, whereof our
eyes and ears were the sad witnesses, under the
authonty ;and -presenee of lLimsey,. Toftés.-the
sheriff, and Greenwood. Loftd, what work was
here! what. clattering of glasses! what;;lieating
down of walls! what tearing up of monuments!
what pulling.dawn of seats! what wresting out of
irons and brass from the. windows and graves!
* Seé Walker's Sufferings of the Clergy, p.24, part i.
T This sacrilegious outrage was committed on June 10, 1044.
HARD MEASURE. 407
what defacing of arms! what demolishing of
curious stone-work, that had not any representa-
tion in the world,, but. only of the cost of tbe.
founder, and skill of the mason! what tooting and
piping on the destroyed organ pipes! and what a -
hideous triumph on.the market-day before all the
country; when, in a kind of sacrilegious and
profane procession, all the organ pipes, vestments,
both copes and surplices, together with the leaden
cross .which had; been: newly sawn down from
over the Green-yard. pulpit, and the service-books
and singing-books that could behad, were carried
to the fire in the publie market-place; a lewd
wretch walking before the train, in his cope trail-
ingin the dirt, ,with a serwice-book in. his hand,
imitating in an impious. corn the tune, and usurp-
ing:'the words of the kitany. usedi formerly in the
church. Near the, public cross,,all these monu-
ments of idolatry must be sacrificed to the fire
not without njuch ostentation of: a zealous joy, in
discharging ordnance, to the cost of some, who
professed how much they had longed to see that
day. Neither was it any news upon this Guild-day,
to have the cathedral, now open on all sides, to be
filled with musketeers, waiting for the Major's
return; drinking and tobacconing as freely, as if .
it had turned alehouse. —— m
* Still yet I remained in my palace, though with
but a poor retinue and means; but the house was |
408 LIFE -OF BISHOP HALL.
held too good for me. Many messages were sent
by Mr. Corbet to remove me thence. "The first
pretence was, that the committee, who was now
at charge for a house to sit in, might make their
daily session there; being a place both more
public, roomy, and chargeless. "The committee,
after many consultations, resolved it convenient to
remove thither: though many overtures and offers
were made to the contrary. Mr. Corbet: was
impatient of my stay there; and procures and
sends peremptory messages, for my present dis-
lodging; we desired to have some time allowed
for. providing some other mansion, if we must
needs be cast out of this; which my wife was so
willing to hold, that she offered, if the: charge of
the present committee house where the thing stood
upon, she would be content to defray the sum of the
rent of that house of her fifth part: but that might
not be yielded: out we must, and that in three
weeks' warning by Midsummer day then approach-
ing; so as we might have lain in the street for
aught I know, had not the providence of God.so
ordered it, that a neighbour in the close, one Mr.
Gostlin, a widower, was content to. void his house
for us. * |
* In 1042, or 1643, William Gostlin, the mayor of Norwich;
was sent a prisoner to Cambridge, for refusing to sanction the
outrages of these reformers.—T opograph. and. Histor. Account
of Norwich, p. 242,
HIS SUFFERINGS. 4098
- “This hath been my measure; wherefore, I
know: not: Lord, thou knowest, who only canst
remedy, and end, and forgive or avenge this
horrible oppression.
Scripsi, May 39, 1647. * JOS. NORVIC.”
‘Bishop Hall, on account of the distractions
and calamities of the. times, enjoyed but a very
short respite of peace and quietness, as bishop of
Norwich ; the aspect of the times threatened the
utmost severity against his order. . He spent a
considerable portion of his old age under a perse-
cution, which has consigned his oppressors to
infamy; many of whom would have been forgot-
ten, even in name, but for their unchristian-like
treatment. of this eminent and meek divine.
Under all the scenes of oppression and violence,
his writings evince the spirit of the christian philo-
sopher, and are indeed his truest testimony.
About the beginning of April, 1643, the ordinance
for sequestering the estates of notorious delin-
quents having been passed, in which Bishop Hall,
and the other prelates, who had been committed
to the Tower, were included, the real and per-
sonal estates of those twelve prelates by name,
together with those of the archbishop of Canter-
bury, and the bishop of Norwich, were ordered to
be sequestered into the hands of commissioners.
410. LIFE :OF ;BISHOP HALL.
The estates. also.of all persons, whether ecelesi-
astical or, éemporal, who had discovered. any affec-
tion to his Majesty, or any dislike to thei pro-
ceedings of this parliament, were ordered to-be:
sequestered. Many clergymen of eminent learn-
ing, and of blameless lives and conversations, who
were sound protestants and excellent preachers,
lost their estates: and . livelihoods ‘through this '
merciless ordinance. . Even the: piety, modera-
tion, and years of Bishop, Hall could not.aave his
property from .the ; rapacious . hands of. these
sequéstrators, or protect his person, from insult.
and abuse... All his, property,.-both.real. amd. per-
sonal, .was.;aeized upon and. sequestered. ‘The.
doleful account which the bishop gives of hjs cruel
treatment. in his. ** Hard. Measure;", cannot be
read withoutindignant emations sepinet Wieanerci-
less oppressors. |. . DE IE
If it may be asked, What« crime or. offence could:
have induced. them to treat a -christian, bishop in
SO oppressive and cruel a manner? .. The: answer
is, he had.been a strenugus advocate: of, episco-
pacy, and of the church of England ;. he had been
loyal to the king, and a faithful friend pf.,the con-
stitution; and had exposed: by. his excellent, writ-
ings the evils and mischiefs.of factious parties. ...
He. was, therefore. harassed, sequestered; ,and
ahused. ‘most .cruelly. Half -a year's rents, and
arrears of rents, which in compassion to his
s .SNBULTS., 5004 411.
tenants he had given them: time to pay, weredaken
from him. .An Inventory of all his goods in. aad
out of the palace was taken; even to.a dozen of
trenchers; anil his children's pictures: -even, the
wearing apparel of himself and. family would have
been appraised, had not two of the sequeptratars,
to whom he-appealed, forbidden it. All his fur,
niture, library, and goods would. have been pub.
hicly:sold,-had not some frienda bought them at 9
valuation, and so kindly left them to him, till, he
should have been ablé to. repurchase them. ..A
bond was given to 'the-sequestrators .to: the, fall
value of the books, which they were appraised at;
end it was paid. out of that poor pittance of jifths
allowed ‘to his: family. His! synodals were for
some time kept from him; and:afterwards-all the
profits: of the 'hishopric.:...He-:was. several. times
insulted in his palace. at unaeasomable hours.
Once, a^ London: troeper, and: others with ; him,
eame:very early te the palace: before the family
were up, and threatened. to- break, the ; gates, if
they were not admitted. . When he got entrance,
he ransacked the whole house, ünder.the pretence
of searching: for..arms.and -ainmunition, After
having examined the chests, trunks, and vessels
in:the .cellar, ‘and: finding only two. muskets, he
took ‘away with. him :one.-of.the. bishops two
horses, when the venerable and. aged. puelate. told
him, “that his age. would not allow him to travel
412 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
on foot.” When this trooper afterwards under-
stood that the bishop sold the other horse, he
highly expostulated with him for so doing. At
another time the palace was beset by a mob,
because he ordained some persons in his chapel
contrary to the covenant, and so insolently sum-
moned him to appear before the mayor. One while
a whole rabble of volunteers came to his gates at
a late hour, when they were locked up, demanding
admittance, and threatening to break the gates.
Some. of. them clambered over the walls, and
wanted to. go into the palace to search for delin-
quents. These insolences, affronts, and many
other hardships almost impossible to be enume-
rated, Bishop Hall endured with astonishing
patience and resignation.
. Parliament had agreed that £400. a year should
be given. towards the support of himself . and
family, in lieu of what they had deprived him of;
. but no care was taken for the payment of this
money ; and when he applied to the committee in
Norwich, and had it confirmed to him by them,
an order was received from the superior committee
in London, prohibiting this allowance ; but inform-
ing the Norwich committee, that if the bishop's
wife was necessitated for a maintenance, upon
her suit to the lords and commons, i£ might be
granted, that she should have a fifth part. .Appli-
cation was accordingly made, and, after a long
FORTITUDE. — 413
delay, the request was granted. But the accounts
of those godly sequestrators were so confused,
that it could not be said what a fifth was; and
‘ they were content that I should eat my books,”
says the bishop, ‘‘ by setting off the sum engaged
for them out of the fifth part.” * Yet,” says he
again, “ while I received nothing, something was
required of me. They were not ashamed, after
they had taken away and sold all my goods and
personal estate, to come to me for assessments
and monthly payments for that estate which they
had taken; and took distresses from me, upon
my most just denial, and vehemently required me
to.find the wonted arms of my predecessors, when
they had left me nothing.” |
Bishop Hall published his Hard Measure about —
the latter end of May, 1647, which probably :
raised some commiseration in the hearts of those
who had usurped the authority in church and
state; for this year some small favor was shewn
to those bishops and others, who had lived peace-
ably, and had been only spectators of the distract-
ing miseries of their country. The committee
was ordered to pay the £800. a year granted to
Dr. Morton, bishop of Durham. Neal says that
Bishop Hall's real estate. was discharged, but
Walker says, “I find indeed an order of Feb. 15,
1647, for taking off the sequestration, (which
doubtless was from his temporals only,) but I pre-
414 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
sume it had jàst the: same effect, (that is, just none
at2all) with-the order: for his pension of £400. per
atinum ;' for his Hard Measure, wherem'he so
justly: complains of his horrible oppression, bears
date, May 29, following; and he mentions not one
word there. of any thing restored to him."*
Probably there was: some lenity shewn him about
this time; fheugh his hardshíps were very. great,
which he bote with christian fortitude and
patience. “I have heard him oft,” says Whitefoot
in his faneral sermon, ‘‘ bewail the spoils of the
church, but very rarely did he so much as: mention
his own losses, but ook joyfully the. spooling of his
goods." Archishop Usher had now an allowance
of £400. a year, till he could be otherwise pro-
vided for, and was soon after allowed to be a
preacher at Limcoln's Ion, upon his taking the
neralive odth. T — —
* See Neal’s Hist. of the Puritans, vol. iii, p. 394; and
Walker's Sufferings of the Clergy, part li, p. 66.
t The negative oath was voted April 6, 1642. It ran thus :
* I, A. B. do swear from my heart, that I will not, directly or
indirectly, adhere unto or willingly assist the king in this war,
or in this cause against the parliament, nor any forces raised
without consent of the two houses of parliament, im this cause
er war. Aad I do likewise swear, that my coming and submit-
ting myself under the power and protection of parliament, is
without any manner of design whatsoever to the prejudice of the
proceedings of this present parliament, and without direction,
privity, or advice of the king, or any of his council or officers,
other than I have made known. ‘So help me God.” &e.
LAST DAYS: 415
- At last Bishop Hall was driven out of'líis
palace, withoutallowing him sufficiént-time to look
out for another residence: though he réquested
the favour of hiring the palace, and Mis. Hall
offered to.pay the rent out of the fifths allowéd to
her, yet so much favor would not be shewn: to
him ; he: was turned: out in three weeks’ notice.
Being thus dispossessed; * we might," says he,
have lain in-the street, fot ought I know, had not
the providence of God:so ordéred it, that. a neigh-
bour in the close, one Mr. Gostlià, a widower, was
content to-void hig house for üs."
Afterwards the bishop and liis family retired to
a small estate, which he rented .at Heigham, a
hamlet in the western suburbs of Norwich, where
he terminated his earthly pilarimige, after all tlie
outrages, persecutions, atid hardships -he endured
iti those turbulent timés>? dnd vx leredt into that rest
‘which remaineth for the people of 'God ; where the
wicked ceuse from trotbting,> avd wheve:the weary
are ut rest. .The bishop's house ‘is ‘still existing,
and is now a public house,’ whose sign is the
Dolphin. It is m ancietit house. built of flint, near
the church; and has for aboutia century back —
been a public house. : Bloómfield^'suys it was not
the bishop’s private: property, but-hired. . There
are the dates of 1587 and 1615 0n it. Initials, B.
with a merchant's mark, and: a coat of’ arms,
three herons... During^hi& retirement at Heigham,
416 LIFE OF BISHOP: HALL.
our good bishop spent the remainder of his
days in doing all the good he could. He was
ready on all occasions to preach in any of the
churches in Norwich, as appears from several
sermons still extant, ** till he was first forbidden .
by men, and at last disabled by God." And
when he could not preach as often, and as long as
he was able, he,was “as diligent a hearer as he
had been a preacher; how oft have we seen him,"
says Whitefoot, ** walking alone, like old Jacob,
with his staff, to Bethel, the house of God!”
When he was in the eightieth year of his age, he
preached in Heigham church the forty-second
sermon in the fifth volume of his Works, intitled,
* Life a sojourning,” on Sunday, July Ist, 1655,
from 1 Pet. i, 17. Tf ye call on the Father, who,
without respect of persons, judgeth according to
every man’s work; pass the time of your sojourning
here in fear. The venerable and aged bishop on
this.occasion observed to his audience, that “ it
hath pleased the providence of my God so to
contrive it, that this day, this very morning,
fourscore years ago, I: was born into the world.
* A great time since,’ ye are ready to say: and so
indeed it seems to you, that look at it forward ;
but to me, that look at it past, it seems so short,
that it is gone like a tale that is told, or a dream
by night, and looks but like yesterday. It can
be no offence for. me to say, that many of you,
LAST YEARS. 417
who hear me this day, are not like to see so many
suns walk over your heads, as I have done. Yea,
what speak I of this? "There is not one of us, that
can. assure himself of his continuance here one
day. We are all tenants at will; and, for ought
we know, may be turned out of these clay cottages
at.an hour's warning. Oh, then, what should we
do, but, as wise farmers, who know the time of
their lease is expiring and canaot be renewed,
carefully and seasonably provide ourselves of a
surer and more during tenure?" "The minds of
the audience could not fail to be impressed by
such pertinent remarks from so venerable and aged
a pastor: indeed, it was the bishop's endeavour in
his last years to keep in view that house not made
with hands, eternal in the heavens, and to prepare
others for that change by his last writings and
sermons, which particularly treated “upon the
.. last things—death and judgment, heaven and
hell." |
He spent much of his last years in devotion and
meditation, lamenting the sufferings and calami-
ties of church and state. Under all his sufferings,
he distributed a weekly charity to a certain num-
ber of. poor widows out of the little which was
left him. He observed also a weekly fast with
his whole family, for the safety and preservation of
the king's person, until his Majesty was murdered.
During his last illness, he evinced extraordinary
Ee
418 LIFE OF ‘BISHOP HALL.
patience aud ‘subtitission to the Divite'will, He
was afflicted with violent and ‘acute pains of -
the stone and strangury, which he bore mobt
patiently, till death ‘pit ah end %o dill his suf-
ferings and troubles. It is shid that be punc-
tually foretold tlie tight of his death, atid'accórd-
ingly gave ordérs for the time and mantir of ‘his
funeral. He Ww oathered to his fathers in à good
old age, dys MI Sept. 8th, 1656, in the eighty-
second year oF nia age. In his ‘will he bequeathed
to the town where he was bofn, and to the'city
where he died, thirty pounds a-piece for the
benéfit of poor ‘widows. By his will, also, he
desired to be buried without any funeral pottip,
at'the discretion of his executors, with this only
monition, That he did not hold God's house a
meet repository for the:dead bodies of the greatest
saints.* From this clause it has been inferred
that he was buried in the churchyard of Heigham:
and from what we learn from his Works, how
that he particularly dishked burials in churches ;
especially from his sermon preached in the eity of
* His will thus begins:—** In the fame of God, Amen. I,
Joseph Hall, D.D. not-worthy to be called Bishop of Norwich,
&c. First, I bequeath my soul, &c. My body I leave to be
- Wüterred, without any funeral pomp, at tlie'discretion of ‘my
executors; with this only monition, that I do not hold God's
house a meet repository for the dead bodies of the greatest
saints."—Fullers Worthies, vol. i, p. 566.
BURIAL. 419
Exeter, at the eonsecration of a burial ground
there, Aug. 24, 1637, it might be gathered that he
would not have been buried in the church; for he
has very expressly and strongly pointed out in the
above sermon, the impropriety of the practice of
burying in churches.* But there is no doubt that
he was buried ia the chancel of Heigham church,
wader the mural monument erected to his memory
en the south-side wall. Over his grave or vault
“was a black marble stone, on which the Arms of
the see of Norwich impaling Hall’s, surmounted
by a mitre, are engraved, with the following
iascription—
INPUYLE JOSEPHI HALL
OLIM NORVICENSIS
ECCLESUE SERVI
REPOSITE $? DIE MENSIS
SEPTEMBRIS ANNO DOMINI
1656 JEFATIS SUJE
ANNO 632°
VALE LECTOR ET
ETERNITATI
PROSPICR,
This stone was removed a few years since into
the middle of the chancel, in consequence of a
pew being erected over the bishop’s grave. In
excavating the adjoining ground in the month
of January 1823, for the interment of the widow
of a late rector, the side wall of the grave or
* See Bishop Hall's Works, vol. v, p. 426.
Ee3
420 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
vault, apparently of considerable solidity, was.
uncovered, and exactly corresponded to the
former situation of the above stone.
The mural monument, placed directly above
the grave on the south wall, is of stone inter-'
mixed with black marble, of rather coarse work-
manship. The pediment, in which it. finishes,
is surmounted with a mitre i» relief, and the
arms of Hall singly (Sable 3 Talbots’ heads
erased Arg.) are under the pediment: The
principal feature. of the monument is the figure
of a skeleton executed in gilding on an arch-
headed black marble tablet, which occupies the
whole space from the pediment to a plinth at
the bottom. The figure holds in its right hand
a scroll with a seal attached to: it, inscribed
. * Debemus Morti Nos Nostraque:" and in its
left hand another scroll, from which a seal has
been torn, inscribed * Persolvit et quietus est."
On the tablet, between the legs of the figure,
is engraved,— _ | |
OBIIT 8 SEPTEM. ANO. ERE CHRISTIANE 1656. ET.
SUE 82.
On the plinth of black marble is engraved,
JOSEPHUS HALLUS OLIM HUILIS ECCLESLE SERVUS.
Mrs. Hall died Aug. 27, 1652, and was buried
in Heigham church:: her tombstone is now
“DEATH OF HIS WIFE. | 421
covered by pews against the south wall, and on
it is the following inscription—
M. S.
ELIZABETH THE DEARE AND VERTUOUS
CONSORT OF JOSEPH HALL B: N: WITH
WHOM SHE COMFORTABLY LIVED
FOURTY EIGHT YEARS CHANGED THIS
MORTALL LIFE FOR AN ETERNALL, AUGUST
37.1652. IN THE YEAR OF HER AGE 69
FAREWELL READER AND MIND
ETERNITIE.
Mr. John Hall, a son of Bishop Hall, was
buried on the 12th of Feb. 1650.* Blomefield, in
his history of Norfolk, under Heigham, not only |
mentions the inscribed tombstone of the bishop's
wife, but also of his son: but the latter does not
now remain; some years ago it was the stepping
stone of a stile into the church yard.
Bishop Hall had been the husband of one wife,
“a grave, virtuous matron, with whom he lived
forty-nine years." On occasion of her death he
wrote his Tractate, entitled Songs in the Night,
or Cheerfulness under Affliction. In the letter
addressed to ** a dear and worthy friend," prefixed
to this Treatise, the bishop observes, ‘‘ indeed,
it pleased my God lately to exercise me with a
double affliction at once; pain of body, and
* In Norwich cathedral there is a monument for Edward Hall,
son of the bishop, who died young in 1642.--Vide Magna
Britannia, vol. iii, p. 316.
492 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
grief of mind for the sickness and death of my
dear consort. I struggled with them both, as
. I might; and by God's mercy, attained to a
meek and humble submission to that just and
gracious hend, and a quiet eomposedness of
thoughts: but yet, inethought, 1 found myself
wanting in that comfottable disposition of heart
and lively elevation of spirit, which some holy
souls have professed to feel in their lowest
depression, fetching that inward consolation from
heaven, which can more than counterpoise their
heaviest crosses. Upon this occasion, you see
here how I held fit to busy my thoughts, labour-
ing by their holy agitation, to work myself,
through the blessing of the Almighty, to such
a cheerful temper, as might give an obedient
welcome to so smarting. an affliction; and, that
even while I weep, I might yet smile upon the .
face of my heavenly Father, whose stripes I do
so tenderly suffer. If in some other. discourses
I have endeavoured to instruct others, in this I
mean to teach myself, and to win my heart to a
willing and contented acquiescence in the good
pleasure of my God, how harsh soever it seems
to rebellious nature.” In the seventh section of
this excellent treatise, speaking of his heavy
afflictions and losses, the pious and aged bishop
says, ' Come then, all ye earthly crosses: and
muster up all your forces against me. Here is
DEATH: OF. HIS. WIFE. 422
that, which ia able. (o make me more than
coaqueror over you all." (He had spoken before
of that blessed eternity which he wished to keep
ia view.) ‘ Have I lost my goods, and fore.
gone a fair estate? Had all the earth been mine,
what is it to heaven? Had' 1 been the lord of
all the world, what were this to. a kingdom of
glory? Have I parted with a dear consort; the
sweet companion of my youth; the tender nurse |
of my age: the partner of my sorrows, for these
forty-eight years? she is but stept a little before
me to that happy rest, which I am panting
tewards; and wherein I shall speedily overtake
her. In the mean time, and ever, my soul is
espoused to that glorious and immortal husband,
from whom: it shall never be parted. Am I
bereaved of some of my dear children, the sweet
pledges of our matrimonial love; whose parts
and hopes promised me comfort in my declined
age? Why am I not rather thankful it hath
pleased my God, out of ‘my loins to furnish
: heaven with some happy guests? Why do I not,
instead of mourning for their loss, sing praises
to God, for preferring them to that eternal
blessedness? Am I afflicted with bodily pain
and sickness, which banisheth all sleep from my
eyes, and exercises me with a lingering torture:
Ere long, this momentary distemper shall end
. in an everlasting rest. Am I threatened by the
424 LIFE OF BISHOP. HALL.
sword of an enemy? Suppose that man to be
one of the guardians of paradise, and that sword
as flaming as it is sharp, that one stroke shall
let me into that place of unconceivable pleasure,
and admit me to feed on the tree of life for ever.
Cheer up, then, O my soul; and upon the
fixed apprehension of the glory to be revealed,
while thy weak partner, my body, droops and
languishes under the sad load of years and
infirmities, sing thou to thy God, even in the
midnight of thy sorrows, aud in the deepest
darkness of death itself, songs of confidence,
songs of spiritual joy, songs of praise and thanks-
giving: saying, with all the glorified ones,—
Blessing, honor, glory, and power, be unto Him
that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb, .
for ever and ever. Amen.” Rev. v, 13.*
* Bishop Hall’s Works, vol. viii, ad fin.
CHAPTER XII.
A VIEW OF THE CHARACTER OF BISHOP HALL,
AND OF HIS WRITINGS.
Tue character and mind of Bishop Hall are
prominently delineated and pourtrayed in his
admirable and numerous writings, Every atten-
tive reader of his works will easily discover the
humility of the christian, united with great talents,
and extensive literary attainments. '* He is
universally allowed to have been a person of .
incomparable piety, meekness and modesty, a
thorough knowledge of the world, and of great
wit and learning." Richardson, in his edition of
Godwin's De Presulibus, p. 444, gives the fol. .
lowing character of Bishop Hall:—* Vir rerum
usu peritus, ingenio subtili et exercitato, eruditione
multiplici instructus, nec interim minor erat modes-
tie et indolis mansuetissime laus."
He was from his birth, in a peculiar manner,
a child of providence; and he tells us in the
beginning of his * Account of Himself" that he
426 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
noted the wonderful providence of God in all his
ways :— What I have done is worthy of nothing
but silence and forgetfulness; but what Ged
hath done for me, is worthy of everlasting and
thankful memory.”
For his preferments and promotions in the
church he was indebted to no patronage what-
ever, but such as his own abilities, and eminent
qualities, under Providence, procured him: by
these he was introduced to the notice and pro-
tection of Prince Henry; and, after the lamented
death of that excellent prince, of his brother
Charles I. In the several dedications prefixed
to detached portions of his works, according to
the custom of that age, he dwells with sincere
and unaffected gratitude on the favors he received
_ from his royal patrons, and he always mentions
most gratefully the kindnesses of his other
friends and patrons towards him.
He was pious from his youth; and being
devoted by his parents to serve God in the sacred
ministry, he particularly directed his studies to
that end. He was so great a lover of study,
that he earnestly wished his health would have
allowed him a more unceasing application. The .
following extracts from a letter to his patron
Lord Denny, exhibit to us his usual manner of
study and of spending each day.
. * Every day is a tittle life; and our whole life
CHARACTER AND WRITINGS. 427
is but a day repeated: whence it is, that old
Jacob numbers his life by days; and Moses
desites to be taught this point of holy arithmetic,
to number not his years but his days. Those
therefore that dare lose a day, are dangerously
prodigal; those that dare mispend it, desperate.
We can teach others by ourselves: let me tell
your Lordship how I would pass my days,
whether common or sacred; and that you, or
whosoever others over-hearimg me, may either
approve my thriftiness, or correct my errors.—
When sleep is rather driven away than leaves
me, I would ever awake with God. My first
thoughts are for him: if my heart be early
seasoned with his presence, it will savour of bam
all day after. While my body is dressing, not
with an effeminate curiosity, nor yet with rude
neglect; my mind addresses itself to her ensuing
task, bethinking what is to be done, and in what
order, and marshalling, as it may, my hours with
my work. That done, after some meditation,
J walk up to my masters and companions —nty
books; and sitting down amongst them, with
the best contentment, I dare not reach forth my
hand to salute any of them, till I have first
looked up to heaven, and craved favor of him,
to whom all my studies are duly referred:
without whom, 1 can neither profit nor labor.
After this, out of no over great variety, I call
428 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
forth those, which may best fit my occasions;
wherein I am not too scrupulous of age: some-
times I put myself to school to one of those
ancients, whom the church hath honoured with
the name of Fathers; whose volumes, I confess
not to open, without a secret reverence of their
holiness and gravity: sometimes, to those latter
doctors, which want nothing but age to make
them classical:—aLways To Gop’s Book. That
day is lost, whereof some hours are not improved
in those divine monuments: others I turn over,
out of choice; these out of duty. Ere I can have
sat unto weariness, my family, having now over-
come all household distractions, invites me to our
. €ommon devotions; not without some short pre-
paration. These heartily performed, send me up
with a more strong and cheerful appetite to my
former work, which I find made easy to me by
intermission and variety. One while mine eyes
are busied ; another while my hand; and some-
times my mind takes the burden from them both.
One hour is spent in textual divinity; another
in controversy: histories relieve them both. When
the mind is weary of other labours, it begins to
undertake her own; sometimes it meditates and
winds up for future use: sometimes it lays forth
her conceits into present discourse ; sometimes for
itself, often for others. Neither know I whether
it works or plays in these thoughts. I am sure
CHARACTER AND WRITINGS. 429
no sport hath more pleasure; no work more use:
only the decay of a weak body, makes me think
these delights insensibly laborious. Before my
meals and after, I let myself loose from all
thoughts, and would forget that I ever studied.
Company, discourse, recreations, are now seasón--
able and welcome. I rise not immediately from
my trencher to my book, but after some inter-
mission. After my latter meal, my thoughts are
slight; only my memory may be charged with
the task of recalling what was committed to her
custody in the day; and my heart is busy in
examining my hands and mouth, and all other
senses, of that day’s behaviour. The evening is
come: no tradesman doth more carefully take in
his wares, clear his shopboard, and shut his win-
dows, than I would shut up my thoughts and clear
my. mind. That student shall live miserably,
which, like a camel, lies down under his burden.
All this done, calling together my family, we end
the day with God. Such are my common days.”
This may be considered as a specimen of the
habitual mode of Bishop Hall’s employing his.
time. He proceeds to describe his way of spend-
ing the sabbath day. ‘ But God's day calls for
another respect. The same sun arises on this
day, and enlightens it: yet, because that Sun of
Righteousness arose upon it, and gave a new life
unto the world init, and drew the strength of God’s
430 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
moral precept unto it; therefore, justly do we
sing with the Psalmist, This is the day which the
Lord hathmade. Now, I forget the world , and, in
sort, myself: and deal with my wonted thoughts,
as great men use, who, at some times of their
privacy, forbid the access of all suitors. Prayer,
meditation, reading, hearing, preaching, singing,
good conference, are the businesses of this day ;
which I dare not bestow on any work or plea-
sure, but heavenly, 1 hate superstition on the
one side, and looseness on the other; but I find
it hard to offend in too much devotion; easy in
profaneness. The whole week is sanctified by
this day; and according to my care of this, is my
blessing on the rest.” *
For mildness and peaceable disposition, joined
with candour, moderation, and charity, he was
singular and exemplary: “ in the distracted and
distempered times" he lived, he laboured hard
for peace among christians. * It was ever the
' desire of my soul,” says he, “even from my first
entrance upon the public service of the ehurch,
according to my known signature, with Noah's
Gove, to have brought an olive-branch to the
tossed ark ; and God knows how sincerely I have
endeavoured it: but, if my wings have been too
short, and the wind too high for me, to carry it
* Works, vol, vii, pp 254-256.
CHARACTER AND WRITINGS. 431
home, I mast content myself with the conscience
of my faithful devotions.” *
During the time of his presiding over the see
of Exeter, for the space of about fourteen years, he
^vas active and vigilunt'in reforming his numerous
clergy, in correctmg what was amiss, in promot-
ing qaety-in general, and in suppressing and dis-
countenancing all violent measures. He never
molested any of his clergy for not complying with
coftuin innovations then crept into the church;
but, by his mild temper and active influence,
succeeded in promoting the * general unanimity
and loving correspondence’ of his clergy.
The superior manner in which he conducted
himself against a host of the most violent assail-
auts of the church, aad of episcopal govemment,
entitles him to the gratitude of posterity. Though
the survived to:see his sacred ‘function prescribed,
and his property and means of subsistence taken
from him, he stood firm to the.last extremity in
defence of the church, -centending for the best
interests of his country. He wes “one of.the
‘most worthy, able, and learned of the sons" of
the Church of England, (as:an eminent prelate
-observes) ** whe:sealed.his attachment by little
less than martyrdom in her cause." f
* Works, vol. viii, p. 43.
t Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry's Primary Charge, p. 11.
432 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
Well might Fuller say that “he may be said ta
have died with his pen in his hand ;" for after he
was sequestered and silenced, he wrote and pub-
lished several useful treatises even in his old age.
In order to prepare men for the last. change, his
last books and his last sermons, as we have
before observed, were all upon the last things ;—
death and judgment, heaven and hell.
His long and useful life furnishes a variety of
important incidents, highly interesting, instructive
and edifying to the christian world. In his case
we find that preferment to the highest dignities ©
in the church had no influence to make him abate of
his wonted industry and active zeal in the cause of
truth. He has given to the world a good account
of his time in his numerous and admirable Works,
which have long praised him in the gate, and
which will be held in due esteem, as long as
genuine piety and true devotion command respect
among mankind. |
He distinguished himself as a wit and a poet at
an early period of his life; for when he was about
twenty-three years old, in the years 1597, 1598,
. he published his Satires, under the title of Virgi-
demiarum,* in sixe Bookes. First three Bookes of
* This uncooth and uncommon word signifies a Gathering,
or Harvest of Rods, in reference to the nature of the subject.
See WARTON. m
CHARACTER AND WRITINGS. 433
'Tooth-lesse Satyrs; 1. Poetical; 2. Academicall;
3. Morall; printed by T. Creede, for R. Dexter,
1597. The three last Bookes, of Byting Satyrs,
by R. Bradock, for Dexter, 1598. Both parts
were reprinted together. in 1599, and first part in
-1602. Ritson, in his ** Bibliographia Poetica,"
says that * Hall's Satires were stay'd at the press,
by order of the archbishop of Canterbury and
' bishop of London; and such copys as could be
found were to ‘bee presentlye broughte to the
bishop of London to bee burnte.’ "
These Satires were republished at Oxford in
1753, by the Rev. William Dodd, afterward D. D.
or rather by the Rev. William Thompson, M.A.
of Queen's college, Oxon,* as Read appears to
have suggested to Dr. Farmer. His Satires have
certainly conferred upon him a just claim to the
appellation of one of the earliest and best satiric
poets in England: they hàve been a model for
succeeding English satirists; and though he was
not the first who attempted this species of poetry
in England, it must be granted that he certainly
was the first legitimate satirist of our country.
Jt appears, however, from his Postscript, that he
* This Oxford repriut of Bishop Hall's Satires, in 12mo,
is a neat and excellent edition: but the last edition, 1824, 12mo.
by Sir W. Singer, with Warton's Illustrations and additional
Notes, is the best.
Ff
434 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL,
had seen no English satires; and only those of
Anosto and “ one base French Satire,” of modern
writers; therefore, in the opening of his Prologue,
be tells us,—
** [ first adventure, with fool-hardy might,
To tread the steps of perilous despight :
I first adventure, follow me who list,
And bee the second English Satyrist."
He might justly pride himself in having given us
the first example of genuine and legitimate satire.
Upon the republication of the Virgidemiarum at
Oxford in 1753, Gray, speaking of Hall's Satires
in a Letter to Dr.Warton, says, ‘‘ They are full
of spirit and poetry; as much of the first as
Dr. Donne, and far more of the latter." *
Dr. Warton also, at the commencement of an
elaborate and masterly analysis of, and criticism
upon Hall's Satires and poetic genius, which it is
to be lamented is only a fragment, in his fourth
volume of 'The History of English Poetry, gives
the following character of these satires: “'They are
marked," he observes, ** with a classical precision,
to which English poetry had yet rarely attained.
They are replete with animation of style and
sentiment. The indignation of the Satirist is
always the result of good sense. Nor are the
* Mason’s Gray, p. 224.
CHARACTER AND WRITINGS. 433
thorns of severe invective unmixed with the
flowers of pure poetry. The characters are
delineated in strong and lively colouring, and
their discriminations are touched with the mas-
terly traces of genuine humour. The versifica-
tion is equally energetic and elegant, and the
fabric of the couplets approaches to the modern
standard. It is no inconsiderable proof of a
genius predominating over the general taste of an
age, when every preacher was a punster, to have
written verses, where laughter was to be raised,
and the reader to be entertained with sallies of
pleasantry, without quibbles and conceits. His
chief fault is obscurity, arising from a remote
phraseology, constrained combinations, unfamiliar
allusions, elliptical apostrophes, and abruptness.
of expression. Perhaps some will think that his
manner betrays too much of the laborious exact-
ness and pedantic anxiety of the scholar and the
student. Ariosto in Italian, and Regnier in
French, were now almost the only modern
writers of satire; and I believe there had been
an English translation of Ariosto’s Satires. But
Hall's acknowledged patterns are Juvenal and
Persius, not without some touches of the urbanity
of Horace.* His parodies of these poets, or
* The First Satire of the Third Book strikingly resembles the
Ff2
486 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
rather his adaptations of ancient to modern
manners, a mode of imitation not unhappily
practised by Oldham, Rochester, ‘and Pope,
discover great facility and dexterity of invention.
The moral gravity and the censorial declamation
of Juvenal, he frequently enlivens with a train of
more refined reflection, or adorns with a ‘novelty
and variety of images.” *
Mr.Campbell is not deficient in a just estima-
tion of the talents of this eminent divine and
satirist: ‘in many instances,” says he, '* Hall
redeems the antiquity of his allusions, by their
ingenious adaptation to modern manners: and
this is but a small part of his praise; for in the
point, and volubility, and vigour of Hall's num-
bers, we might frequently imagine ourselves
perusing Dryden.” See Specimens, &c. vol. ii,
pp. 256--261.
In the third Satire of his fifth Book, Hall
exhibits the true design of this kind of poetry;
and, as his editor, Mr. Pratt, justly remarks,
*Jaments at the same time, the untempered
genius of his age; which, while it encouraged
the graces and subdued imagination of classic
Sixtb Satire of Juvenal. It exhibits a forcible contrast of the
demperance and simplicity of former ages, with the luxury and
effeminacy of the Poet's own times.
* Vide Chalmer’s English Poets, vol. v, p. 226.
CHARACTER AND WRITINGS. 437
elegance, could not brook its bolder and more
nervous efforts.” It begins thus:
* The Satyre should be like the porcupine,
That shoots sharp quilles out in each angry line,
And wounds the blushing cheeke and fiery eye,
Of him that heares and readeth guiltily.
Ye antique Satyres, how I blesse your daies,
That brook'd your bolder still, their own dispraise ;
And well-neare wish, yet joy my wish is vaine,
I had beene then, or they were now againe!
For now,our eares beene of more brittle mold,
Than those dull earthen eares that were of old:
Sith theirs, like anvilles, bore the hammer's liead,
Our glasse can never touch unshivered.”
, His,* last Book and Satire is a humorous and
ironical recantation of the former satires; as the
author here pretends there cau be no just ground
for one in such times as his own. In one part -
he glances at the sorry poets of his time, and
makes some terse allusions to poets of a former
day. Afterwards, when enumerating some of
the festive tales of our ancestors, he gives a close
and spirited imitation from Juvenal: and closes
the whole by a few remarks on the prevailing
dialect of poetry, with a vigour of fancy scarcely
rivalled by the finest poets of his time."* The
following lines form part of it:
** Was never age I weene so pure as this!
* * * & * *
Seeke over all the world, and tell mee where
Thou find'st à proud man, or a flatterer;
* Sat. 1, b.vi. Note.
438 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
A theefe, a drunkard, or a parricide,
A lechour, lyer, or what vice beside.
Marchants are no whit covetous of late,
Nor make no mart of time, gaine of deceit.
Patrons are honest now, ore they of old ;
Can now no benefice be boughte or sold."
The Satires of Hall exhibit a very minute and
curious picture of the literature and manners, the
follies and vices of his times; they amply prove
the wit, the sagacity, and the elegance of his
Muse. Poetry was the occupation merely of
his youth; the vigour and decline of his days
were employed in the composition of professional
works, calculated by their piety, eloquence, and
originality, to promote, in the most powerful
manner, the best interests of true religion and
morality.* |
Though he more particularly exercised his
poetical genius in his youthful years, yet at one
period he intended to make a poetical version
of the Book of Psalms, and signified his intention
to his relative, the Rev. Samuel Burton, arch-
deacon of Gloucester, and to his friend the Rev. :
Hugh Cholmley, requesting their judgment of
his design, and intimating his readiness to pro-
ceed in the work, provided he met with due
encouragement from those in authority. He
t Vide Dr. Drake's Shakspeare and his Times, vol.i, part 2,
chap. iv, p. 627. Mr. Pope said high things of Hall's Satires.
See Granger's Biog. Hist. of England, vol. ii, p. 167, 8vo.
CHARACTER AND WRITINGS. 439
says that he had been solicited by some reverend
friends to undertake this task, as well according
with the former exercises of his youth and his
profession. However, he only proceeded as far
as the ten first Psalms: but this specimen shews
that he was very capable of the undertaking.*
The prose works of Bishop Hall are written
in such a style of eloquence, as justly entitles
him to a place amongst our best authors; but
the distance of nearly two centuries since he
wrote has necessarily occasioned some of his
phrases to appear rather obsolete. _
A judicious writer of his own times, Sir Henry
Wotton, in his letter to Dr.Collins, distinguished
him by the name of the English Seneca, for the
pureness, plainness, and fulness of his style.
He might have proceeded further, and might
have denominated him the English Chrysostom.
Fuller, in his ** Worthies," describes him as “ not
unhappy at Controversies, more happy at Com- .
ments, very good in his Characters, better in his
Sermons, best of all in his Meditations." T
The practical works of Bishop Hall have been
always held in great esteem by the Christian
world: imany of his works are not only eminently
* See his Works, vol. x, p. 259; vii, p. 107.
+ Worthies of England, vol, i, p. 866, 4to. ed. 1811.
' 440 LIFE OF BISHOP. HALL.
practical and devotional, but also.contain much
biblical criticism and general literature. |
His CONTEMPLATIONS are acknowledged in-
comparably excellent and valuable, both for
style, criticisms, and genuine, piety. In the
compilation of these admirable productions, the
bishop seems. to have consulted all the most
eminent commentators and interpreters of the
Sacred Writings then extant, and appropriately
to have introduced their best remarks and obser-
vations in the most pleasing, elegant, yet unaf-
fected and simple manner. Now and then some
passages, from the peculiarity of his style, and
distance of time, may appear abstruse or obscure
to common readers; but a degree of close
attention will be well repaid in comprehending
his. meaning, which will. generally.be worth some
pains to be acquainted with.
His cowTEMPLATIONS, he tells: us, are the
substance. of. sermons: ** The reader may be
pleased.to understand, that my manner hath still
been, first.to | pass through all these. Divine
Histories by way of sermons ; and then after, to
gather the quintessence of those larzer discourses
into these forms of meditations which he sees." *
The cONTEMPLATIONS, being the substance
and abridgments of the sermons of this eminent
* Bishop Hall’s Works, vol. ii, p. 366.
CHARACTER. AND WRITINGS. , 441
.prelate, are not only particularly useful to chris-
tian ministers, wherein they will find such a
variety of remarks and observations, as cannot
fail to afford important assistance for the pulpit,
and prove highly edifying to an audience; but,
through the divine blessing, they may be very
useful and profitable to all serious readers, whose
delight and meditation is in the word of God.
The subjects of Bishop Hall, and his manner
of treating them, will be approved by christians
of all denominations; for none of the low and
little bigotry of a party, nothing of the narrow
spirit and prejudice of a sect, is to be perceived
here. True genuine christianity shines here in
its native lustre and simplicity. The truth
. appears in a beauty, which must .captivate
the most prejudiced and enslaved to particular -
sentiments or. opinions. His CONTEMPLATIONS
are so excellent in their kind, so. entertaining,
and breathe a spirit of universal benevolence,
which is equally averse to bigotry and enthusiasm,
and knows no master but Christ, and obeys no
law. but love.*
The. fcllowing testimonies to the excellencies
of Bishop Hall are highly interesting. The pious
and eloquent Hervey, speaking of his Works,
. * Dr. Dodd's Preface to his Edition of Bishop Hall's Contem-
plations, 2 vols. 12mo.
44D LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
says, ** where the reader will find a happy mix-
ture of true oratory and sound divinity ; a rich
vein of fancy, and a sweet spirit of piety;
Contemplations opon the Histories of Scripture
(which I think are our prelate’s master-piece)
almost as entertaining and tnstructeve, as the
subjects illustrated are important and wonderfal.
Notwithstanding a few stiff or antique phrases,
I cannot but esteem the works of this author
among the most valuable compositions extant in
our language.” * Dr. Doddridge (a no mean
judge) says of his coNTEMPLATIONS, that they
** are incomparably valuable for language, criti-
cisms, and devotion ;" characterises the bishop
as '* pious, moderate, and eloquent ;" and observes
' that, ** allowing something for the peculiarities of
the age in which he lived, he had met with no
devotional writings on the historical part of
Scripture, which have generally given him so
much entertainment as his, particularly his
Contemplations." T
His PAnAPHRASE upon the hard texts of the
whole scriptures, is highly esteemed: Dr. Dod.
dridge pronounces these expository notes to be
* Hervey’s Theron and Aspasio, Dial. viii.—Works, 8vo.
Ed. 1797, vol. ii, p. 288. Note. |
t Doddridge’s Lectures en Preaching. His Family Expositor,
sec. Ixxxv. Note.
CHARACTER AND WRITINGS. 443
* very valuable, especially for shewing the spirit
and force of many expressions that occur."
Most of them, if not all, are inserted in the
valuable commentary of Bishop Mant, and Dr.
D'Oyly, published under the sanction and pat-
ronage of the venerable Society for Promoting
Christian Knowledge.* The late Rev. Thomas
Scott made much use of Bishop Hall's Contem-
plations and notes in his invaluable commentary.
As & PREACHER, Bishop Hall was popular,
Ingenious, eloquent, and devout. His segMONS
possess uncommon merit: they rank high both
for matter and language: even his sermons at
court indicate singular faithfulness, and a great
benevolence of heart. They are interspersed
with interesting anecdotes, brilliant allusions, and
. happy illustrations. The doctrines which he
taught in the pulpit, and in his admirable Works,
were the doctrines of Christian verity, contained
in the articles and homilies of the church, of
which he was so great an ornament. His Works
may be well classed among those which give us a
fair specimen of the doctrines of the church of
England. He was a true and “a dutiful son of
the church.” His sentiments were decidedly
evangelical, and, as they are discovered in his
* Vide Horne’s Introduction, vol. ii, p. 831.
444 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
Works, may be considered as a fair and ample
exhibition of the doctrines of our church.
His MEDITATIONS, may be enumerated among
the best of his writings: herein, according to
Fuller, he excels. Such appears to have been
the habitual piety of his mind, that every object,
and the most common occurence or incident,
afforded him a subject or matter for spiritual
improvement, or religious and moral application.
In this he copied and imitated the example of his
Divine Master. The meditations, aphorisms,
and maxims of persons remarkable for their learn-
ing, wisdom, and piety, have always been con-
sidered as ranking high among the most select
treasures of literature. Those of Bishop Hall have
been esteemed the most valuable, both for. the
importance of their instruction, spirituality, and
the energetic style in which they are written.
The following interesting account of Bishop
Hall’s Meditations is given by the Rev. Robert
Hall the bishop's eldest son: ‘ The expres-
sions of these voluntary and sudden thoughts
of his, shall testify how faithfully he is wont to
improve those short ends of time, which are stolen
from his more important avocations. Thus,
methinks, we. should still be climbing up in our
thoughts, from earth to heaven; and suffer no
object to cross us in our way, without some spiri-
tual use and application. Thus it pleased my
CHARACTER AND WRITINGS. 445
Reverend Father, sometimes to recreate himself ;
whose manner it hath been, when any of these
meditations have unsought. offered themselves
unto him, presently to set them down.”*
“The intent of this labour," says the bishop
himself, **is to put some good thoughts, Reader,
into thy mind; such as I hope may not a little
farther thee on thy journey to heaven. And if,
in. my labouring thitherward, I sball, through
.God’s mercy, bee a means of forwarding any soul,
but some steps up that steep way, how happy am
I! To which purpose, I know no means more
effectual, than those Meditations, which conduce
to the animation and vigour of Christian practice :
it must be true contrition, pure consciences, holy
affections, heavenly dispositions, hearty devotions,
sound regeneration, faith working by love, an
humble walking with God, that shall help us into
. heaven; and whatsoever may tend to theadvancing
of any of these gracious works in us, is worthy
to be dear and precious." T
It may be farther said respecting his Medita-
tions, that the remarks and observations con-
tained in them are generally very striking; and
throughout they exhibit fervent piety, and much
* Bishop Hall's Works, vol. vi, p. 104.
+ Ibid, p.246.
446 EIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
originality of thought. It has been said that
Bishop Hall seems to have imitated Augustine and
Seneca in their style; if that be true, he has done
so more particularly in his Meditations.
His other devotional writings are equally val-
uable, spiritual, and edifying: they discover
throughout the Christian experience and heavenly-
mindedness of the author.
His EepisTLEs exhibit a pleasing specimen of
his spirit and manner: they unfold his mind and
heart: and they are particularly interesting for the
remarks upon men and things, cases of conscience,
and the occurrences of his times.
In his coNTROVERSIAL writings he hes invari-
ably manifested the charity and moderation of
the. real Christian: innumerable traces of’ the
benignity and gentleness of his. disposition are
apparent. He. was: very zealous against popery,
and no less so against those who. separated from
the church without extreme necessity. He feel-
ingly lamented the divisions of. protestants, and
wrote some tractetes with a view: of putting an
end to them. -The several controversial pieces
against those dissenting ministers, quaintly styled
Smectymnuus, “are written in a very handsome,
lively, and witty manner: but his adversaries too
much distinguished themselves by a peculiar
fierceness of spirit, and asperity of language: they
wrote with confidence, like persons supported by
CHARACTER AND WRITINGS. 447
the secular arm, and who could depend upon
stronger and more irresistible arguments than
those upon paper.” *
He has composed some treatises and pieces: in
Latin, which are written in a very elegant, pure,
and classical.style. Of these, the. Sermon intitled
* Columba Noz," and * Inurbanitati. Pontificie
Responsio, "were translated by the Rev. Rob. Hall,
the bishop's son. But his admirable treatise enti-
tled, ** Henochismus," carelessly and inaccurately
translated by the Rev. Henry Brown, vicar of
Nether Sevell, has been. revised throughout, and
brought nearer to the.original by the Rev. Josiah
Pratt. But the curious. treatise entitled *^ Mun-
dus alter et idem," Ke. he world. different, yet
the same, has never yet been given. im a: suitable
English dress. There. has never been. but one
translation of it by. John Healey, a copy of which
is now of very rare occurrence. The Rev: Josiah
Pratt did. intend to. give a translation of it, taking
the singular and humorous version. of Healey, as
the ground work: * but he found the translator
so often degenerating into ribaldry, and the origi-
nal to require so much delicacy and. elucidation,
that he abandoned the design; not without hopes
that some person of leisure and ability may be
* Middleton's Biog. Evangel. vol. iii, p. 356.
448 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
induced to give this fine piece of irony a suitable
English dress." In this singular treatise, Hall,
under an agreeable fiction, satirises and ridicules
the vicious manners of several nations. It is to
— be regretted that so excellent a piece of satire
and irony should be nearly inaccessible fo the
English reader.
The Works of Bishop Hall were first collected
by the Rev. Josiah Pratt, B.D. and published in
ten volumes 8vo, in 1808. This edition is very
correctly printed, is arranged and revised with
much judgment and accuracy, and is also illus-
trated with occasional notes, table of contents,
glossary, and a copious index to the whole.
The ingenious and acute Dr. Ferriar has excited
'a degree of attention to the Contemplations of
Bishop Hall, among critics, by detecting the
plagiarisms of Sterne, who has stolen hints and
remarks from Hall, Burton, and Rabelais, without
any acknowledgment. See Dr. Ferriar's lllustra-
tions of Sterne, 8vo.
CHAPTER XIII.
ON PURITANISM.
Ir is thought proper here to give a short sketch
of the history of Puritanism, and to shew that all
who were denominated Puritans from the time of
Queen Elizabeth to the usurpation, were not sepa-
ratists or dissenters from the church of England ;
but in many instances, true and attached friends
of the church. From the account of some histo-
rians, it may appear as if all the puritans were
dissenters. This was far from being the case:
many of the puritans kept in the church to the
last ; indeed the most eminent of them for learning,
piety, and usefulness, did not separate.
Though the reformers were of one faith, yet
they were far from agreeing about discipline ;
while one party was disposed only to withdraw
from the church of Rome no further than was
necessary to recover the purity of the faith, and
the independency of the church, looking upon
rites and ceremonies as indifferent, and non-
Gg 7
450 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
essential; others were for relinquishing all kinds
of rites and ceremonies, and for adopting as a
model, the plan of the Genevan church. This
latter party separated when the act of Uniformity
was rigorously executed in Queen Elizabeth's
time.
Many of those, who did separate then, were
neither peaceable nor judicious; when they found
they could not reduce the church to their own
narrow model, they conferred with their friends
about a separation from the church, and agreed,
* That it was their duty in their present circum-
stances to break off from the public churclies,
and to assemble as they had opportunity in private
houses, or elsewhere, to worship God in a manner
that might not offend against their. consciences.”
This was the first separation from the church of
England; and it was as much owing to the
weakness and want of judgment in the separatists,
who could believe those things to be sinful, upon
which the scriptures were silent, and expected'
the majority to give way to the humour of a few;
as to the rigour and intemperate zeal of the ruling
_ powers in imposing and pressing indifferent rites
and ceremonies with too much severity. *
Those, who refused to subscribe the liturgy,
* Warner’s Eccles. Hist. of Eng. vol. ii, pp. 436, 487.
-—
ON PURITANISM. 451
cevemonies, and' discipline of the ¢hurch, m the
year’ 1563, and. the fifth of Queen Elizabeth, were
branded with the'name of Puritans; because they
aimed! at à purer form of discipline and worship,
ae they inragined, than that which was yet
established. |
* But profane mouths," says Faller, ‘ quickly
improved this nic-name therewith on every occa-
sion to abuse pious people; some of them so far
from opposing the liturgy, that they endeavoured,
according to the instructions thereof im the pre-
parative to the confession, **to accompany the
minister with a PURE HEART,” and laboured, as it
8 in the absolution, for a life purr and HOoLy.*
A puritan, therefore, was not necessarily a non-
conformist, but one who endeavoured in his devo-
tions to accompany the minister with a PURE
heart, and was remarkable and singular for
holiness of heart and life. In the reigns of James
I. and Charles I. if a man, though a conseientious
churchman, kept the sabbath, and. frequented.
sermons, if he maintained family religion, and
would neither swear nor get drunk, nor comply
with the fashionable vices of the times, he was
immediately stigmatized with the name of a
Puritan. | |
* Church Hist. b, ix, p. 76.
Gg2
452 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
When the infamous declaration for sports on the
Lord's day was published, the clergy and people,.
who were averse to such profanation of the
sabbath, and discountenanced vice and immo-
rality, were branded with the name of Puritans ;
thus it is evident that the term Puritans, was a
general term of reproach cast on all who: lived
soberly, righteously, and godly; and did not more
belong to pious dissenters than to pious church-
men. Every reader of the civil and ecclesiastical
history of the period from Queen Elizabeth, to the
restoration of Charles II. should ‘keep this in
view; for some writers have so represented the
puritans as being all dissenters from the church of
England. This is a great error, and should be
guarded against.
. One prominent trait in the character of the
puritans, whether churchmen or dissenters, was
an adherence to the doctrinal Articles of the
church of England, in the sense of the compilers;
and also a strong aversion to popery. Many of
them became great sufferers for their not complying
with some rites and ceremonies urged upon them
by the rulers of the church. "Though there were
men eminent for their piety among the puritans,
and were upright, sincere, and genuine christians,
yet during the long parliament and the usurpation,
many men of bad principles sheltered themselves
under the name of puritans, with the view of
ON PURITANISM. 453
accomplishing more effectually the ruin of the
constitution in church and state.
It must be acknowledged that numbers of the
puritan divines sided with the parliament, among
whom were some superlatively eminent for litera-
ture, as Selden, Lightfoot, Cudworth, Pocock,
Witchcots, Arrowsmith; but among all the
bishops and clergy who espoused the cause of
the king, were also men of the first rank for
learning, politeness, piety, and probity of manners,
as Usher, Hall, Moreton, Westfield, Brownrigge,
Prideaux, Hammond, Saunderson, &c.
We must not presume that all who were called
puritans were really pious and good men; for
undoubtedly there were among them hypocrites
and infamous characters: the best of them were
not without their failings, for they were men of
like passions and infirmities with others; and
while many of them endeavoured to avoid one
extreme, they fell into another. The behaviour
of many of them was severe and rigid, far removed
from the fashionable liberties and vices of the
age. But in general they were the most . pious
and devout people in the land: they.were men
of prayer, both in secret and public, as well as in
their families: their manner of devotion was
fervent and solemn, depending on the assistance
of the Divine Spirit not only to teach them how
to pray, but whet to pray for as they ought.
454 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
Tbey had a profound reverence for the holy
name of God, and were utterly averse mot enly
to profane swearing, but te * fodhsh talking and
jestimg which are not convenient." They were
stnct observers of the Lord's day, spending the
whdle of it in acts of public and private devotion.
Iit was the distinguished characteristic of a
puritan 3n those times, to see him going to church
twice a day with his bible under his arm.’ While
others were at plays, interludes, revels, sports,
and diversions, on the Sunday evenings, the
puritans with their families were employed in
readmg the Scriptures, singing psalms, catechizing
their children, repeating sermons, and in prayer,
Thus the puritans, many of whom were faithful
friends of the church, were accustomed to spend
the Lord’s day. They had also their hours of
family devotion on the week days, and considered
it their duty to take care of the souls as well as
the 5edies of their domestics. ‘They were rir
cumspect as to all excesses in food and raiment;
abstemious in dawéul diversions ; industrious in
their respective avocations; honest and exact ja
their dealings; and solicitous to give every one
his own.*
Durmg the troubles of the times om account
* Vide Neal's Hist. of the Puritans, vol. à, p. 512. |
ON PURITANISM. 455
of the differences between Charles I. and the
parliament, puritanism, in one sense, was pro-
ductive of much good; the reformation of man-
ners was then very remarkable. The laws
against vice and profaneness were so strict, and
so vigorously put in execution, that vice was
forced to hide itselfin corners. The magistrates
did their duty in suppressing all kind of games,
stage plays, and abuses in public-houses. There
was not a play acted on any theatre:m England
for almost twenty years. Profane swearing,
drunkenness, or any kind of debauchery, were
not to be heard or seen in the streets. The
Lord's day was observed with unusual reverence :
the churches were citowded with numerous and
attentive hearers, three or four times in the day.
The peace officers patroled the streets of Lon-
den; and all the public-houses were shut up:
there was ne travelling on the road, or walking
in the fields, except in cases of absolute necessity,
Religious exercises were set up in private families,
as reading the Scriptures, family prayer, repeat-
ing sermons, and singing of psalms. This was
so general a custom, that, we are told, a person
might walk through the city of London on the
evening of the Lord's day, without seeing an idle
person, or hearing any thing but the voice of
prayer or praise from churches and private houses.
It is also said, that there was hardly a single
456 LIFE OF BISHOP HALL.
bankruptcy to be heard of in a year; and that
even in such a case, the bankrupt had a mark
of infamy set upon him that he could never
wipe off. :
Some historians have described and represented
the religion of those times to be no otherwise
than hypocrisy and dissimulation; and that a
vast portion of people made the form of godliness
a cloak to iniquity and dishonesty: undoubtedly
there was then too much hypocrisy, as there is
at all times, and many covered their abominable
practices with the cloak of an outward profes-
sion of religion.— Most probably hypocrisy and
hidden immorality were the prevailing sins of.
those times. It was the fashion of the day to
appear religious; and so, under the mask of
religion, the most infamous crimes were com-
mitted. But it cannot be denied, that there was
a large portion of people, both churchmen and
dissenters, who were sincerely religious and
devoutly pious.*
Bishop Hall, and others of his order, for their
eminent piety, were reproached as being puri
tanically. inclined: so it has always been that
the scandal of the cross is.perpetually attached
to all, whether they hold. eminent or humble
D———————————————————— PO nÁÁÁ—————————————Ó————— ÁO a —— — ——
* Vide Rushworth, vol. ii, part 3, p.1. Neal, vol. ii, p.
453. Ibid. 565. vol. iv, pp. 268, 269.
ON PURITANISM. . ‘487
stations in the church of Christ. Real Christians,
in the days of Bishop Hall, were denominated
Puritans, a name derived from purity, as it
has been before observed: in the present day
EVANGELICAL is the term of reproach, a name
derived from the christian ministers being desirous
to do the work of evangelists; see 2 Tim. iv, 5.
Though worldly men may give the term evan-
gelical to religious persons as a name of reproach,
it is certainly an honourable appellation. Another
usual name of religious reproach in these days
is Methodist; a term used at Oxford, and
derived from the method which some pious stu-
dents observed in employing their time. The
term is now applied to every person of real and
sincere piety, and may almost be considered as
another term for a christian.*
Many christian ministers of the present day are
distinguished and stigmatized by the name of
evangelical, or methodistical, because they adhere
closely to the standard of Scripture, of the
Liturgy, Articles, and Homilies of our church;
and because they make a full proof of their
ministry. Had Bishop Hall lived in these days,
he would have been held *'in great jealousy for
too much favour of” evangelism, as he was “ of
* See Dr. C. Buchanan's Sermons, pp. 58, 69. Note.
X38 LIFE (GF BISHOP HALL.
parttanesm;:” (but Bishap Hall may, with .the
greatest propniety, be considered as exhibiting in
this whale dife and writings a fair specimen of what
a bishep-and .a mimister of the church of England
should be:—he was strictly canonical and cen-
aistent—a strenuous maiatainer.of christian pod-
liness and christian :ender—a genmine son of the
church, who dived and preaeked the doctrines of
our Liturgy, Articles, and Homilies.
FINIS.
APPENDIX.
BISHOP HALUS
LETTERS TO ARCHBISHOP USHER.
No Il. - |
TO THE MOST REVEREND JAMES USHER, ARCHBISHOP
OF ARMAGH.
GRATULOR vero ex animo, te Antistitum decus,
Sancto Ignatio tuo: Gratulor tibi imó, universo
orbi Christiano, Ignatium, meritissimó tuum;
sed quidem et tuo beneficio nostrum? Gratiorem
profecto operam navare Dei Ecclesie nullus
unquam potuisset quam tantum, tam antiquum
sanctumque Apostolice sxpertacias patronum, ac
tam egregium primeve pietatis exemplar ab
injuria temporis vindicando. Inciderat nempe
bonus iste viator Hierosolymitanus in Latrones
quosdam Hierochuntinos, qui illum non spoliá-
rant modo, sed miseré etiam penéque ad mortem
vulnerárant; praterierant saucium ac feré mori-
bundum, nescio quot Parkeri, Coci, Salmasii,
aliique nupere secte coryphei; vestra vero
462 APPENDIX.
(molliora uti sunt) viscera tam dura hominis
aliobgy SOrte misericorditer commota sunt; ' vestra
unius pietatis (optimi instar Samaritam) vinum
oleumque infudit tam patentibus vulneribus,
abstersit saniem, foedéque hiukea plagarum ora,
manu tenerá fasciavit; feréque exanimem vestro
typorum jumento imposuit; ac communi denique
Ecclesi€ hospitio, non sine maximis impensis,
commendavit. Profecto hoc uno nomine assur-
gent Amplitudini tue boni (quotquot sunt)
omnes; manusque tam salutares piis labiis exos-
culabuntur. Intelligent jam novitie paritatis
assertores quid illud sit quod tanto molimine
usque machinantar, sentientque quam probe
ils cum sanctissimo Martyre, ae celeberrimo
Apostolorum Diseipulo. cenveniat. — Hlud vero,
inter Doctissitras Annotationes vestras saliente
et corde et oceulo legisse me fateor, quo epgre-
gium illud coax, Salmasianum de terspore sup-
positicit Ignatii, lemi illa quidem, sed castigatrice
manu corrrpuerts: Fierb me potait ut tantus
author in re tanti momenti Chronolocicà, tam
fede laberetur, aut aum forte, hoc pacto, (cea
doquidem hzc cause diseiplinarie Arx merite
liabeatur) dominis suis palpum ebtrudere maluit ?
Quicquid sit, bis Martyrum passus Ignatius
noster; tud demunr opera Prezsul honoratissime,
reviviscit; causamque iniquissime janr abdicate
APPENDIX. 463
sexo in Ecclesie totius foro tam caté agit,
ut non pudere non possit hesterne Discipline
astipulatores, tam malé-suscepti, litis injuste
patrocinii. Quod si nullum aliud foret nostre
sententie propugnaculum, nobis quidem abunde
sufficeret habuisse (cw 6:w) nostre veritatis patro-
nos, te et Ignatium. Vale Primatum aéivomacre
et Ecclesie laboranti, et precibus, et operis
(quod.facis) subvenire perge,, et fave,
Cultori tuo, ac malorum tuorum
Socio, et preconr Meritorum,
E Tuguriolo Nosiro Highamensi, — JOS. NORVICENSI.
Maii 35, 1647:
No. II.
TO THE MOST REVEREND JAMES USHER, ARCHBISHOP -
OF ARMAGH.
SALUTEM IN CHRISTO.
GraTé admodum et manu et menté accepi
heri, Primatum Reverendissime, a manibus Hono-
randi plurimum Episcopi Dunelmensis, literas
tuas, sed et donaria longé pretiosissima, libros
tuos: Deus bone! quam elaboratos quam recon-
ditiore literatura refertos quos stupebunt exteri,
gratulabunturque authori felicitatem hanc et otii
et eruditionis: Nostri vero quó tandem non
possunt non erubescere, tantum virum neglectui
habuisse? At, O te omni et invidià et tyrannide
superiorem; quem divinior mens supra terrena
queeque ita longé extulit, ut ingratissimi evi sive
incuriam sive contemptum nihil quicquam ad te
pertinere sentias: lllud tibi unum cure est ut
bene merearis: ]llicet hoc animo resides in
obscuro Lincolniensis Hospitii angulo, qui totius
APPENDIX. 465
Occidéntis Patriarchatu dignissimum te pres-
titisti.
Mibi vero homini pauperculo quid tandem
suppetit quod munificentie tue retribuam? Ex-
ciderat mihi pridem opella quedam, ita quidem
minutula, ut me plané .puduerit ejusmodi stre-
nulam tanto pesuli obtulisse; tandem tamen eo
prorupi audacis, ut id facerem : Tu pro singulari
candore tuo ignosces erroribus quibusque sive
scriptiuncule, sive authoris; qui se |
Reverendissime Paternitatis vestre
clientem profitetur devotissimum
E Tugurio meo Highamenei, JOS. NORVIC.
Febr. 26, 1647-8.
Hh
No. III.
ARCHBISHOP USHER'S LETTER TO
BISHOP HALL.
TO THE RIGHT REV. JOSEPH HALL, BISHOP OF
NORWICH.
ApMoDUM Reverendo in Christo Patri, Fratri-
que charissimo D. Josepho Hallo, Norwicensi
Episcopo.
Quem tui in me amoris et judicii (Antistes
optime) fructum ceperim; Ignatiana Appendix
ista declarabit: ad quam perficiendam, et in
lucem proferendam majorem mihi animum quàm
unquam habuissem, elegantissimas et suavissimas
tuas ad me literas dedisse, non possum non
agnoscere. Cum ea mitto et de Fidei Symbolis
Diatribam, et de Macedonum atque Asianorum
anno dissertatiunculam; non alio a te estimandas
pretio, quam quod profecta sunt à
Fratre tuo amantissimo et
cultore summo
Lond. vii* Kalend.
Martins, An. MDCXLVII. JACOBO USSERIO Armachano.
No. IV.
TO THE MOST REVEREND JAMES USHER, ARCHBISHOP
OF ARMAGH.
Accepr à te pridem, Honorandissime Presul,
munus egregium, teque uno dignum, Annales
sacros Veteris Testamenti accuratissimé digestos.
Non enim mihi traditum est volumen, quàm
oculi mei in tam gratum, diuque expetitum opus
irruerint illico, neque se exinde avelli patiuntur.
. Obstupui sané indefessos Labores, industriam
incredibilem, reconditissime eruditionis monu-
menfa, que se istic passim vel supino lectori
ultró objiciunt; Precipué vero subit animum
mirari felicitatem otii tui, quo inter tam continuam
concionum doctissimarum seriem studiis hisce
pauló asperioribus, et abstrusissimarum quarum-
cunque (utpote ex ime antiquitatis caligine eru-
tarum) historiarum indagini vacare potueris: Hoc
fieri non potuisset ilicet sine numine mirum in
modum et tibi propitio, et Ecclesie: in cujus
unius gratiam hec tibi singularia et artium et
linguarum charismata tam ubertim collata fuisse,
Hh2
468 | APPENDIX.
facile persentisces. Perge porro, Decus przsu-
lum, ita et nos beare, et adornare tibi coronam
glorie sempiterne: et faxis mirentur posteri tale
lumen tam infzlici seculo indultum. Expectare
nos jubes Chronologicum opus toti Christiano
orbi exoptatissimum, sed et Annales, insuper
alios: Quid non à tanto authore speremus? Deus
modo protrahat tibi dies, ut evi maturus hinc
tandem demigres, seroque in celum redeas. Misit
mihi librum nuper à se editum Christophorus
Elderfeldius noster, non, uti fatetur, injussu suo ;
sane doctum, ac prob? elaboratum, et nisi in
deploratum incidissimus zvum,. non inutilem:
Quantum debeo et Authori et Patrono? Habeat
suas à me uterque gratias. Ego quod superest
Paternitate vestre Revereudissimz preces meas
animitus voveo quin et meipsum.
E Tuguriolo nostro Higham«nsi, JOS. NORVICEN S.
In festo Sancti Jacobi
Anno MDCL.
No. V.
TO THE MOST REVEREND JAMES USHER, ARCHBISHOP
OF ARMAGH.
MOST REVEREND, AND HONOURABLE,
. WrrH never enow thanks for this precious
gift which I receive from your Grace's hand, I
have, with no small eagerness and delight, turned
over these your learned and accurate Annals,
wondering not a little at that your indefatigable
labour, which you have bestowed upon a work
fetched together out of such a world of monu-
ments of antiquity; whereby your Grace hath
better merited the title of saaxevrepos and govomovos,
than those on whom it was formerly imposed ;
but in looking over this admirable pile of history,
my curiosity cast me upon the search of two
over-famous persons, Simon Magus, and Apol-
lonius Tyaneus; the particularities of . whose
story seem so much to be concerned in the dis-
quisition of-that antichrist lately set on foot by
470 APPENDIX.
Grotius and Dr. Hammond. I had hoped to
have found a just account, both of their times,
and their actions, and events, in this your com-
plete collection: which missing of, I have taken
the boldness to give this touch of it to your
Grace, as being desirous to know, whether you
thought good to omit it, upon the opinion of the
invalidity of those records, which mention the
acts and issue of those two great Juglers; or
whether you have pleased to reserve them for
some further opportunity of relation. Howsoever,
. certainly, my Lord, it would give great satisfac-
tion to many, and amongst them, to myself, if
by your accurate search, I might understand
whether the chronology of Simon Magus, his
prodigies and affectation of Deity, may well stand
with St. Paul’s prediction of an o avrixeysevos, a8
following it in time, after the writing of that
second Epistle to the Thessalonians. I must con-
fess, if the times may accord, there may seem to
be some probability in casting antichrist upon an
age not so far remote from the apostolic, as hath
been commonly reputed ; since the apostle speaks
of it as a thing so near at hand, that the ordinary
christians of Thessalonica were well acquainted
with the bar of his revelation.
I beseech your Grace to pardon this bold
importunity of him, who out of the consciousness
APPENDIX. 471
of his deep devotion to you, and his dependence
upon your oracular sentence in doubts of this
nature, have presumed thus to interrupt your
higher thoughts: In the desire and hope whereof,
I humbly take leave, and profess myself,
Your Grace's in all Christian
observance and fervent devotion,
Higham, May 1, 1654. . JOS. NORVIC. .
No. VI.
BISHOP HALLS
ATTESTATION TO |THE CHARACTER OF THE REV. JOHN
DOWNE, B. D. IN A LETTER TO DR. HACKWELL.
WORTHY DR. HACEWELL,
I po heartily congratulate to my dead friend
and collegian, this your just and noble commemo-
ration. Itis much that you have said; but, in
this subject, no whit enough. 1 can second
every word of your praises, and can hardly
restrain my hand from an additional repetition.
How much ingenuity, how much learning and
worth, how much sweetness of conversation, how
much elegance of expression, how much integrity
and holiness, have we lost in that man? No
man ever knew him, but must needs say, that
one of the brightest stars in our west 1s now set;
the excellent parts that were in him, were a fit
instance for your learnedly defended position, of
the vigour of this last age; whereinto he gave his
accurate and witty astipulation. I do much
APPENDIX. 473
rejoice, yet, to. hear, that we shall be beholden
to you for some mitigation of the sorrow of his
.loss, by preserving alive some of the posthume
issue of that gracious and exquisite brain; which,
when the world shall see, they shall marvel that
such excellencies could lie so close, and shall
confess them as much past value as recovery.
Besides those skilfull and rare pieces of divinity,
tracts, and sermons; I hope (for my old love to
those studies) we shall see abroad some excellent
monuments of his Latin poesy: In which faculty
I dare boldly say, few, if any, in our age exceeded
him. In his polemical discourses, (some whereof.
I have by me) how easy is it for any judicious
reader to observe the true genius of his renowned
uncle, Bishop JEwELL? Such smoothness of
style, such sharpness of wit, such interspersions
of well-applied reading, such grave and holy
urbauity : shortly (for I well foresaw how apt
my pen would be to run after you in this pleasing
tract of so well.deserved praise) these works
shall be as the cloak, which our prophet left
behind him in his rapture into heaven. What
remains, but that we should look up after him,
in a care, and endeavour of readiness for our day;
and earnestly pray to our Gop, that as he hath
pleased to fetch him away in the chariot of death,
so that he will double his spirit on those he hath
474 APPENDIX.
thought good to leave yet below: In the mean
time, I thank you for the favour of this your
grave, seasonable, and worthy sermon, which I
desire may be prefixed, as a meet preface, to the
published labours of this happy author. Fare-
well, from your loving friend, and fellow-labourer,
Exon. Palace, JOS. EXON’.
Mar. 22, 1631.
No. VII.
A LATIN SERMON,
PREACHED
BY THE VERY REV. JOSEPH HALL, D. D.
THEN DEAN OF WORCESTER,
Before the Synod of Dort, Nov. 29, 1618.
xxix Novembris, Die Jovis ante meridiem.
* Habita fuit in Conventu Synodico à Reverendo et Clarissimo, D.
Josepho Hallo Wigorniensi Decano, doctissima atque accuratissima
exhortatio Latina, ex Eccles. Salomonis, c. vii, v.16. Pro qu&
publice ei gratie sunt actz.” Acta Synodi Dordrechti, p.38.
Ecc.es. vii, 16.
Ne sis justus nimis, neque sis nimis sapiens.
DE justitia mihi hodie, cum bono Deo, et de
sapientia sermo erit. Quid vero occurrere potuit
opportunius? De justitia «coram quissimis
Reipub. moderatoribus, de sapientia coram am-
plissima doctissimorum "Theologorum Synodo,.
sed et vice versá de sapientia in prudentissimorum
Ordinum vicariorum consessu; de justitiá .in.
sanctissima corona Prophetarum. Nec est quod.
dubitem ne non. aure bibulà, lubentiq animo:
recipiantur ista ab utroq vestrüm. ordine (Nobi-
lissimi Ordinum Deputati, 'Theologi gravissimi)
que utrumque ex sequo spectare videbuntur.
Justitia se vobis offert primulim, deque illà tres
mire profectó clausule conveuére istic, seque
oculis auribusque vestris sponté ingerunt: Justus
perit, ver. 160. Ne sts justus nimis, 16. Non est
justus; 20. Euge concionatrix anima, quid medi-
taris? ut à sacro illo ore pugnantes effluant
sententie, seque uti Cadmza proles -mutuo peri-
mant; dum negat ultima, quod prima asseruit ;.
secunda vetat fieri, quod ultima posse fieri negat:
478 APPENDIX,
Si non sit justus, qui potest perire? Qui potest
esse quis justus nimis, si justus nemo est? Mi
homo, amice sunt semper scripturarum lites:
utinam tales semper fuissent nostre. Neque
hic opus est Mose aliquo Mediatore, qui frater-
nitatem inculcet. Pulcherrimé, scilicet, his inter
se ultro convenit, ubi tribus clausulis, tria justitiz
genera accommodare libuerit. Justitia absoluta
est: sic nemo justus. Justitia inchoata, inque
suo genere: sic justus perit. Justitia equivoca;
sic ne sis justus nimis. Ita facilé et nimidm
justus est, qui justus non est, et qui justus est,
perit. Non ergo vel animum' adimit justitiz
asseclis summum justitie exemplar, dum justum
perire ait, vel veram justitiam deprimit, dum
nimietatem vetat. Facile quidem omnes deter-
remur à bono, qui vix ullis seu monitorum seu
minarum frenis nos à malo divelli patimur.
Quàm avidé alacriterque omnes arripimus hoc
quicquid est consilii! Nempe hoc ezgre nobis
est, ac si quis febricitanti amico, jamque merum
ignem spiranti, poculum frigide pleniusculum
propinaverit. Perplacet nature nostre libertas,
et quicquid hanc sapit, cordi est, Nos quidem
onagrorum more (Jobi verbum agnoscitis) per .
hzc mundi deserta soluti discurrimus, nec jugo
assueti, nec freno. ‘Tota religio ligat nobis et
mentem et manum. Unde et nomen illi indidit
APPENDIX. 479
vetustas, et frenum appinxit in manu inter
"Theologos nostri seculi Poeta maximus. Nullum
non mandatum hami instar est et retinaculi, quo
vaga hec, et in scelus omne solutissima mens
coéreetur cxarpos roves est quiequid jubet. lllud
vero imprimis, Estote perfects, sicut Pater vester.
Quod Petrus olim de rituum lege, idem caro et
sanguis de lege morum: jugum impar cervicibus
et Patrum et nostris. Laxare nunc habenas
hasce videtur Salomon, et pro blaudi alicujus
Mitionis more indulgere aliquid parum flagitiose
licentie ; Ne sis justus nimis. Falleris et hic,
quisquis es, Parasite tui. Perditissime huic
nature obblandir velit sanctus concionator, ut
modum imperet vere sanctimonie, improbulum
ut esse sinat, ut jubeat!— Apage blasphemiam!
dixisset modo, noli justus esse, haberes profectó,
quo petulantem hunc animum demulceres. Sed
cum ait, Noli justus esse nimis, justitiam precipit,
damnat excessum. Excessus justitie justitia
nón est. Ut desit vocabulum quo hoc exprima-
tur, res constat: satis justus nemo potest esse,
nedum nimis; etiam dum servat justitie modum.
Molesta quedam animi pendentis anxietas et
Jas nomen hoc fortean induit, aut opinio justi-
tie. Quot vitia, virtutum titulis insignita vulgo
prodeunt, presertim ubi nota additur excessus ?
Nimis liberalis, prodigus est: nimium fortis,
audax: frugi nimis, avarus. Potius istic pro-
480 APPENDIX.
batur sor Cum vregéos prohibetur. Ut ubt
Paulus immoderatum pro mortuis luctum vetat,
moderatum jubet. Imprimis ergo justus esto.
Da operam, ut in te jóstus sis, ut in Christo.
Regula justitie lex est, summa legis justitia.
Oportet impleri omnem justitiam, inquit verus
aexervro Melchisedechi. Suum cuique, justus.
Vis igitur justus esse? Da Deo timorem, amorem,
fidem. Proximo, et suum semper, et aliquando
etiam ipsius tuum. [ili enim et tuum cedit: ubi
tibi superfluit, ipsi defit. Tibi, quantum et
nature sufficiat, et persone. — Utinam vero hoc
unum addiscere possemus aliquando: utinam
hac in: parte haud parum peccaretur gravius!
Non satis justi sumus, qui justitiam profitemur.
Quisque sibi fere totum tribuit, proximo parum,
minimum Deo; utrique certe horum, quantulum
expediat sibi. Vos appello (viri fratres) testes
communis hominum vite ac morum, quam peri-
erint penitissime justitia et veritas, a filis homi-
num. Quippini et vos eque provocem, (viri
Magnates) censores judicesque facinorum, que
oculos plebeculz vel spectando fatigarint. Con-
queremini licet omnes cum Beato Martyre
Cypriano: Flagrant ubique delicta, et. passim
multiformi genere peccandi, per improbas mentes
nocens virus operatur. Quin et innocentia, nec
illic ubi defenditur, reservatur. Consensere jura
peccatis, et ccepit esse licitum, quod publicum
APPENDIX. 481
est. Sed, O si possitis in illà sublimi specula
constituti, oculos vestros inserere, secretis, reclu-
dere cubiculorum obductas fores, et ad conscien-
tiam luminum penetralia occulta reserare, aspice-
retis profecto ab impudicis geri, quod aspicere
non possit frons pudica; videretis, quod crimen
sit et videre, turpes Aretinismos libidinum, crudas
nauseabunde ebrietatis reliquias. — Filii hominum, |
usque quo gravi corde, quousque diligitis vanita-
tem et quzritis mendacium?. Estote justi satis.
Succurrite. vos interim laboranti Reipubl. qui
sedetis ad ‘clavum, et.date operam.sedulo, ut
grassantibus . hominum vitiis, tempestivis ali-
quando tandem censuris occurratur. Quin claves
manu. exerit exercetque Ecclesia, quz gladium
oris liberé usque vibraverit? Quin fulminum
spiritualium vim omnem ac horrorem .sacrum
redintegratis,. facitisque ut qui Dei Ministros:
flocci fecerint, ad. lictorum vestrorum. fasces
contremiscant? Supponitur hoc primum (justus
est!) sequitur, quod vetatur postmodum, Ne
quid nimis; seu opinione, seu vero reipsa. Non
opinione: facile qui pauxillum in se habent
justitie, intestino quodam fermento sue eoavria;
efferentur, jamque se plus .nimio abundare autu-
mant. Ita justus erat jactator sui Phariszus,
Gratias tibi, Domine, non sum ut alii, non ait, ut
aliqui: modestiz fuisset istud, humique repentis
tamewoppooums, Sunt enim aliqui profecto Demones,
Ii
482 APPENDIX.
humana specie larvati, ut vere Hieronymus: sed
ut alii, universalis naturam sortitur indefinitus
enunciandi modus. Parem cum Pompeio ferre
non vult, nedum cum Cesare superiorem. Jun-
gant vero huic manus (si volunt Pontifii Thra-
sones, homines sacerrimi, qui legem se ex amussi
servare et supererogare demum aliquid se Deo
posse jactitant. licet hu veri sunt horum tem-
porum, (quos exprobare solent aliis) Puritani.
Ingenue (quod solet) Espenszus, sunt qui hodie,
status et homines in perfectione justitie tantum
non zequent Angelis, nove veteris Pelagianismi
reliquie. Qua hzresi, ut nulla vel periculosior
vel perniciosior, aut perpetue gratis Christi
recessitati magis contraria, ita nulla vel minus
exstincta, vel plus rediviva. Sed et suos denique
Gratianus, .istos probé sugillat, qui si nomen
suum, inquit, cognoscere vellent, mundanos se
potius quam mundos appellarent.. Erigant isti
sibi cum Acesio scalam, qua in celum ascendant,
(monitore Hieronymo) ab irato interim. omnis
superbie vindice, in imum barathrum precipi-
tandi. Mittamus opinionem. Sunt qui reipsa
nimium ambiant justitie, idque vel publice, vel
privatim. Public, vel qui ipsum legis rigorem
sectantur paulo severiis in judicando, neglecta
interim omnis emexsas ratione: pessimi amanu.
enses, qui leges etiam lacteas sauguine transscri-
bunt. Carnifices plane legales, qui dum non tam
APPENDIX. 483
in mentem legislatoris, quam in juris apicis inten-
dunt, magistram vitz, matrem pacis saluberrimani'
wma» in ministram mortis iniqué convertunt.
Quo referri dicerem, qui sic penis fuic solent, ut
in aliorum delicta atrocius animadvertant, nisi
illud palam esset, nullo graviore morbo seculum
hoc, quam lenitate nimia laborare. Neque tam'
lenientibus, cutimve blande reducentibus lini2
mentis indiget commune improbitatis ulcus, quam
igne et ferro. Etiam virtus ipsa flimia licentia
languescit, que moderata coércione vires perennat,
imo reduplicat. | Animosissimus equorum, si sem-
per laxantur freni, medio itinere deficit : neque
jam virge respondet satis, nec calcaribus. Siqui-
dem vobis publicz rei salus cure sit, eritis quidem
hac in parte justiores. Vel qui sacre legis
interpretes ita se literis ac syllabis maneipio dare
solent, ac si (contra quod olim T'ertullianus)
ratio divina non in medulla esset, sed in superficie.
Ita Scribe olim et Pharisgi, censore Christo.
Ita Origines, penam dans meritó tot allegori-
arum, KEunuchatum plane allegoricum ad literam.
paulo servilius interpretatus, sibi vim tulit. Qui
non minus vim intulerat Scripture, virque esse
desit, qui non desüt esse malus interpres. Ita et
Monachus ille olim Evangelium ipsum vendidit,
@ quo jussus est omnia vendere. Utinam vero
Doctores Pontificii immunes se prestarent ab
hoc crimine, quibus nimis solenne est celum terre
Ii2
484 APPENDIX.
Li
miscere, humanitatem Christi in monstrum, in
nihilum redigere potiàs, quam in sacramentali
loquendi forma’ figuram nobiscum admittere
veliut, qui tamen ipsi multas inibi fateri coguntur. |
Non infimum est apophthegmatum sapientissimi
Regis, quod tamen vulgata Papicolarum versio.
ridiculum facit, Emulsor lactis educit butyrum ;
emunctor nasi educit sanguinem. Et quid est hoc
aliud, quam yaaz ado sincerum lac veritatis, ita
nimis agitare ut in butyrum congelescat: naresque
scripturarum. adeo graviter comprimere, ut san-
guis demum eliciatur. Et horum quidem uterque
nimis justus est; in sententiis seu ferendis seu
interpretandis. Quin et huc revocamus illos
malé cautos justitie divine vindices, qui causam
Dei non aliter agendam censent, quam suam.
Quasi ille ipse omnis justitiz et bonitatis fons
ac scaturigo immundum fluat, nisi ab istorum
puteis, humorem petat ilicet: vel qui ex altera
parte prodigiosam justitiam, piisque auribus ne
ferendam quidem Deo adfingunt. O homo, O
lutum ; sat est: sis tu illi. quem te esse voluit : sit
tibi ille, quem se fore revelavit. :
Privatus justitie excessus sequitur, vel s 1
amsyew vel vzrexe Ut imitemur Epictetum, sive An
evitandis rebus legitimis, quarum nobis. usum
liberé concessit Deus, sive in agendis suspicien-
disque que Deus nusquam prescripserit. _ Illud
meticulosz cujusdam est ac rigidiuscule anxieta-
APPENDIX. 485
tis: hoc vero superstitiose nimiumque affectate
sanctimonie. Que de utroque horum meditatus
eram quam multa prudens omitto, ne nimius sim.
Cum instituto nostro conjunctior est paulo que de
sapientia sequitur oratio. Ne sis sapiens nimis.
Qui, data optione, sapientiam sibi elegit, ‘et
supra quam mortales solent, sortitus est, nimium
damnat sapientie ; Ecquid melle dulcius? vere
Sampson. Ne mimium (amen mellis comedito,
prudenter Salomon. Ipse rationis morbus est
curiositas, quo vel ad mortem usque laborarunt
primi generis humani parentes: nobis quidem
ideo hzreditarius cognatusque. ‘Esdras ille sup-
posititius aliud profitetur, aliud prestat. Non
proposui mihi, inquit, interrogare de superioribus
iuis. Et tamen eodem loci, Nunquid plus futu-
rum est, quam preterut? Sed et bonus ille
Dionysius, ita de Angelorum ordinibus (uti nostis)
disserit, quasi cum Paulo raptus fuisset in celum
Imo que B. Apostolus vidit et conticuit, iste non
minus profecto conticuit, quam vidit. ^ Neque
defuit alter, qui celestium spirituum numerum
eequé certo designavit. Quin et Matilda, una é
minorum gentium divis, fratris cujusdam rogatu
ausa est nimis quidem familiariter sciscitari, quid
de anima Sampsonis, quid de Salomonis, Trajani,
" Origenis, demum fieret. Qui ad pedes Christi
diutule sederunt Apostoli, ubi de fidei mysteriis
sermo inciderat, audiunt illico, vobis datum est
486 APPENDIX.
nosse: sed ubi de rebus parum necessariis percon-
tantur, ovx' vue» yova:. Absorptus est ab illa vora-
gine Plinius, quam proprius penitiusque voluit
intueri. Et Bethsemite, dum sacram Dei sedem
leti perlustrant oculis suis, periére. Scio me jam
ulcus tangere hujus evi, quod tamen faciam levi
manu. Liceat mihi, fratres reverendi, coram vobis
merito queri, seculum illud prius, nimium igno-
rantiz perdidisse. O. crudeles plane illorum tem-
porum Scribas et Phariscos, qui claves celorum
sibi servantes, nec intrarint ipsi, nec alios intrare
discupientes sustinuerint : nostrum vero hoc nimio
perire. sapientis. Generosior quidem paulo est
iste morbus, sed nihilominus lethalis. Omnes
omnia scire volumus; et ne quid forte lateat,
etiam in arcanissima De concilia temere irruimus
ac precipitamur. Date veniam huic parrhesiz,
Et plebem et doctore reos perago hujusce mali.
Est sane (nequis nesciat) Theologia duplex,
scholastica et popularis. Hzc religionis basin
spectare videtur, illa tectorii ipsius formam et
ornamenta respicit ^ Hec, que sciri debent;
illa que sciri possunt. Hujus cognitio Christia-
num facit, illius disceptatorem. Vel, si quis
mavult, et hac Theologum facere solet, illa
polire. Ut omnes utriusque sententiam ex zquo
ambiant, periculi plena res est, et quz vulgo in
summa rerum omnium confusione desinat. Nulla
profecto. ars est, cujus intima ac secretiora
APPENDIX. / 487
mysteria non soleant, peculiari quádam ratione,
solis artificibus relinquit. Nemo est quin tantum
sibi patrii juris notum esse velit, quantum heredi-
tati sue sive adeunda, sive tutande inservire
posse putet, qui tamen summos juris apiculos
sibi parum disquirendos autumet: hos vero potius
consultissimis legum doctoribus lubentissimé
remittat. Pari modo fit in medicinà. — Ecquis
est, qui non eo usque se /Esculapio in disciplinam
tradere velit, ut quid corpori suo noxium, quid
valetudini accommodum esse soleat, satis intelli-
gat? qui tamen interim omnes pharmacopole
pixides,' herbarum vires, morborum rationes,
medendique methodos, susque deque habeat:
Quin et hoc idem in artium omnium Domina ac
Regina anime cum jurisprudentia tum medicina,
sacrosanctissima "Theologia usu venit. Scitu ad
salutem necessaria queque imbibant omnes, et
licet et juvat. Saturate animas vestras, quotquot
estis Ecclesie filii, sacris hisce deliciis; subtili-
ores scholarum argutias, alio ablegaturi. T: ww
xe paxpos avrg; Quanto minus expedit, ut ple-
beium quodque ingenium summas czli arces
scandat profano pede, ibique sacra Dei penetralia
audaci oculo perlustret, deque profundissimis
consilii divini arcanis, judicum ferat? Ut quivis
& plebe nautarum bajulorumve, de abditissima
predestinationis ratione, ratiocinari presumat?
Regulam Cossicam in Arithmetica dixit nonnemo
488 APPENDIX.
predestinationem in Theologia, de qua doctam
quandam ignorantiam fateri noni puduit illumina-
tissimos Ecclesie. doctores. Etiam’ rapta in
celum anima clamavit Q gatos! Nos vero, brevi-
culà intellectus nostri ulnulà decreti divini abys-
sum metiri audebimus, queque ipsi Angeli stupent,
nos conculcabimus? — Neque tam plebem incuso
istic, quam doctores ipsos, qui hec tam parum
tempestivé populi auribus animisque obgesserint.
Imprudenter sane factum, ita hec abstrusissima
inysteria é suggestis palam sonuisse, quasi in iis
solis Christianorum res unica constitisset. Quan-
quam, ut vere dicam, etiam in causis religionis,
nemo tenetur secundum ictum expectare. Ferire
non licuit, licuit impetum hosticum propulsare.
Sed neque tam imprudentia peccatur istic, quam
mimio forsan sapientis. Duo sunt, si quid ego
animadverti, huic Ecclesi2 admodum infesta,
nihil enim est cum: malis quorundam politicorum:
artibus negotii, nimium ‘acumen, et hinc orta
nimia prophetandi libertas. O mutata haud
parum Batavorum ingenia, quibus hebescit jam
plané orbis reliquus: dignus ilicet, qui vulgaria
consectetur! Hinc fit, ut spreta communi prin- .
cipiorum via, altiores quasdam speculationum
semitas, de Ordine, de. Numero de Subjecto
decreti: divini, de. Phisica moralive inclinatione,
: de Actuum habituumque methodo ac discrimine,
tanto cum strepitu inire maluistis. ' Paulo aliter
APPENDIX. 4069
magnus ille gentium doctor Paulus, qui profecto
si revivisceret, spinosam Jesuitarum ac Dominica-
norum 'Theologiam non intelligeret. Nihil ille
inter suos scire curavit, preter Jesum Christum
eumque crucifixum. Figendz sunt hic scholis
ipsis sue mete, quas nefas fuerit transiliisse.
Quantum nos, mei fratres, à primigenia illa
Christianorum simplicitate defleximus! Sex
tantum capitibus constabat Catechismus Apos-
tolicus. Theologia vero hodierna, que homi-
num curiosa mens est, se habet. instar quanti,
seu mathematici seu physici, divisibilis in semper
divisibilia. Illud quidem vere Erasmus, : hanc
vix finitam questionum: subinde emergentium
decisionumque farraginem, hoc quicquid est
turbarum,.in Ecclesia Dei concitasse. Neque
dubitarim ego non neminem scholasticorum,
verbis Festi compellare, unáque ad Anticyras
relegare. Quos nimium eruditionis ad pessimum
usque insaniz genus redegerit. At nos, mei
fratres, edocti melius, sobrié sapiamus. Hoc est,
uno verbo, non supra scriptum, non supra patres.
Nos homuli ut progrediamur porro ubi pedem
fixerit Deus? Audi caro et sanguis; Scrutator
Majestatis, opprimetur a gloria. Quindecim sunt,
ut Judai odservant, in totà scriptura, loci, singu-
laribus quibusdam intentionis notulis insigniti.
Quorum ille et unus, et primus est, Secreta Deo.
Si nihil quicquam consilii sui nobis innotescere
voluisset Deus, prorsus siluisset; si totum, dilu-
490 APPENDIX.
cidius profecto ac plenius rationem illius omnem
explicuisset. Jam scire nos ista voluit, sed par-.
cius. Quantum scilicet nostre tenuitatis modulo
sueque glorie expedire judicavit, Hucusque
sapere et sanum et tutum est. Et certe, ut
liceat mihi hac de re paulo liberius loqui) quan-
doquidem nullarum partium homo sum ego, nequé
adversarium ago, sed monitorem benevolum)
judicem esse debere controversiarum ..Spiritum S.
in sacra Scriptura loquentem, nemo est qui
ambigat. : Quo nempé recurrant fratres. de jure
hereditatis contendentes, nisi ad Patris testa-
mentum? :Gratulabor vero hoc consilii Illustris.
Ordinibus, quorum nos decretum huc pié pruden-
terqué manu duxerit. : Neque minis illud constat,
ea Scripture loca, qua quid obscurius, vel tran-
seundo enunciare videntur, ad illustriora, queque
studio rem ipsam tractant exigenda. Sed neque
hoc denique a quoquam negari potest, nullum
esse paginz utriusvis locum, qui zqué plene,
perspicue, deditave opera disquisierit hoc predes-
tinationis caput, ac celeberrimus ille, qui habetur
ad Romanos nono. Agite ergo, viri judices, si
me auditis, jubete, ut pars utraque litigantium,
brevem, claram, apertamque, sine fuco, sine
ambagibus illius loci paraphrasin Sancte Synodo,
fraterná manu exhibeat. Fieri non potest, quin
preeunte hac face divina, se veritas piis ingenu-
isque oculis conspiciendam -sit prebitura. Non
APPENDIX. 401
supra patres, fidissimos Scripture interpretes,
lucidissima Ecclesie sydera. Sed et rex noster,
serenissimus noster rex Jacobus, cujus ‘nomine
exultare mihi videtur tota Ecclesia Dei; regum
quos sol uhquam vidit, post unum Salomonem
Gcodidaxrovy, Sapientissimus, in sua illà aurea Epistolà
monuit Illustris. Ordines, nobisque in mandatis
dedit, illud totis viribus urgere, illud unum incul-
care, ut receptze hactenus fidei communique. et
vestre et aliarum Ecclesiarum confessioni adhz-
rere usque. velitis omnes. Quod si feceritis, O
felicem Belgicam! O intemeratam Christi spon-
sam! O rempublicam florentissimam! — Navi-
gabit profecto in portu demum hzc affiictata
opinionum. undis Ecclesia, tempestatesque a
maligno, illo excitatas, tuto ridebit ac contemnet.
Iilud vero. ut jam tandem fiat, gooruiurfe »cvxatev
Fratres sumus, simus.et college. Quid . nobis
cum illo infami Remonstrantium, contra-Remon-
Strantium, Calvinianorum, Arminianorum titulo ?
Christiani sumus, simus et iojvxo. Unum corpus
sumus, simus et unanimes. Per tremendum
illud omnipotentis Dei nomen, per pium blan-
dumque communis matris nostre gremium, per
vestras ipsorum animas, perque sanctissima Jesu
Christi Servatoris nostri viscera, pacem ambite,:
fratres, pacem inite; et ita nos componite, ut
seposito omni prejudicio, partiumque studio ac
malo affectu, in eadem omnes veritate feliciter
492 APPENDIX.
‘conspiremus. Apage vero vesanam illam .pro-
phetandi libertatem, imo licentiam blasphemandi;
ut liceat male feriato cuique Tyroni, prodigiosis-
sima cerebri sui phantasmata in apricum produ-
cere, et populo commendare et prelo.. Ridente
Mauro, nec dolente Judeo! Quidvis licet, modo
hoc liceat: in Scholis quidem philosophicis
indultum hoc semper fuit luxuriantibus adoles-
centum ingeniis, ut liceret se thesibus, paradoxis,
doctisque argutationibus. exercere; .sed ut in
SS. Theologie veritatis. negotio. istud obtineat,
moliri, audacie .est plane diabolice; et.quod
merito nobis extorqueat illud prophetz, . ** Obstu-
pescite celi, confundere O terra. Populus meus
deseruit me, fontem vivum, et effodit sibi. cisternas,
imo puteos immundos, lutulentos." Nobiliss. viri,
vosque Sancta Synodus, si quis pudor, si .qua
pietas, reprimite hanc petulantissimam insaniendi
libidinem, modum imperate hominum. et linguis
et calamis. Et facite, ut qui vera. sentire nolunt,
falsa divulgare non ausint. Ut.error heresisve,
si denasci non potest, discat tamen latere, et
invisum czlo caput tenebris occultare. Ita ut
sola veritas lucem adspiciat, regnet sola;. vobis
salutem, gloriam Ecclesie, Reipub. pacem alla-
tura. Quod utique efficiat ille. pacis autor,
veritatis Deus, Rex gloriz, cui triuni Deo, Patri,
Filio, Spiritui S. sit omnis laus, honor, gloria, in
secula seculorum. AMEN.
No. VIII.
Rustica Academie Oxoniensis nuper reformate
descriptio, in visitatione fanatica Octobris sexto,
&c. A. D. 1648, cum Comitits ibidem Anno
sequente: et aliis notatu non indignis. Doctore
Alibone nuper Lincolnie Oxon. Authore.
1. RUMORE nuper est delatum
Dum agebamus ruri,
Oxoniam iri reformatam
Ab iis qui dicti puri.
2. Decrevi itaque, confestim,
(Obstaculis sublatis)
Me Oculatum dare testem
Hujusce novitatis.
9. Ingressus urbem juxta morem,
Scrutandi desiderio:
Nil preter maciem, et squalorem, .
Foedissimum comperio.
' 4. A Decio in specum jacti,
Qui tantum dormiérunt,
Post seculum expergefacti,
Tot mira non viderunt.
5. Erectas illi crebras cruces,
Et templa conspexére,
Que prisci pietatis duces
Tunc primum construxére.
494
APPENDIX,
. Nos autem sanctiora nuper
Incidimus in secula,
Qui tollunt ista tanquam Super-
Stitionis symbola.
. Ad Scholas primum me trahebat
Comitiorum Norma,
Queis olim quisq. péragebat
Solenniter pro formá.
. Expecto Regios prefessores,
- - Comparuére nulli:
Nec illic adsunt Inceptores,
Nec Toga, nec cuculli.
. Calcavi Atrium Quadratum,
Quo juvenum examen
: Confluxit olim; video pratum
10.
11.
13.
14.
Quod densum tegit gramen.
Adibar lubens Scholam Musices,
Quam F«eminec et Joci
Ornassent pridem, sed Tibicines
Jam nusquam erant loci.
Conscendo Orbis illud decus
Bodleio fundatore: —
Sed intus erat nullum pecus, .
Excepto Janitore.
. Neglectos vidi Libros multos,
Quod minimé mirandum:
Nam inter Bardos tot et Stultos
There's few cou'd understand 'em.
Dominico sequente die,
Ad sacra celebranda,
Ad sedes propero Marie
Nam dive vox nefanda.
'Tenébar mox intrandi metu, |
Solicitus ut ante:
Sed frustra prorsus, nullo cetu
Introitum negante.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
21.
. * Dr. Reynolds.
t Dr. Sheldon postea Cant. Arch. Episc.
APPENDIX.
Ingressus sedes.seniaribus
Togatis destinatas: .
Videbam Cocis et Sartoribus.
Et Lixis, usurpatas.
Procancelarips *. recens prodit,
Cui satis literarum,
Quod vero quisque probus odit,
Est Conscientie parum.
Procurartoes sine clavibus, .
Queerentibus ostendas :
Bedellos novos sine Stavibus ;
Res protinus ridendas.
Suggestum conscendebat fungus "
Insulsa quaeq. fundens:
So dull a fool was ne'er among us,
Pulvinar sic contundens.. —
Quicquid in buccam evenivi£ :
Minaci utens dextra,
Boatu magno effutivit
Et nuuquam fuit EXTRA.
. Defessus hac .Dulmanitate,
Decrevi venerandos
Non adhuc pulses civitate ^
Amicos visitandos.
Collegium petii Animarum ,
Nunc proprie sic dictum:
Nam rerum hic corporearum -
' Vix quicquam.est relictum.
. Hic quero virum { suavitate :
Omnimodo politum:
Responsum alibi ingrate,
CUSTODEM custoditum.
.t Dr. Stanton. |
495
496 APPENDIX.
23. Ad Corpus Christi flecto gressum
Qua brevitate ossum :
Jurares novis probris pressum
Et furibus confossum.
24. Ecclesiam Christi susque deque
Jactatam mox et versam,
. Et sobolem, heu! longe lateque
Percipimus dispersam.
5
Rogavi ubi sit Orator *
Divine plane mentis:
Pro facinus! incarceratur
Facund: decus gentis. .
26. Hinc domum peto precursoris,
Quem triste passum fatum,
Recenti narrant vi tortoris
: Secundo decollatum.
27. Tam Sancto preside + cadente
Discipuli recedunt :
Et Cacodemone 1 regente,
Nec bibuut jam, nec edunt.
28. Heu! pulchra domus, nuper leta
Dulcissimis fluentis, :
Nunc ceno penitus oppleta
. Canalis putrescentis..
29. Adire nolui. Trinitatem,
Quam nostis prope stare :
Hereticam societatem .
‘Ne videar damnare.
90. Nam tanta desolatione, :
Quam quis nefandam dicet,
Occurrunt nusquam tres personz
Scruteris usque licet.
* Dr. Hammond. + Dr. Bayly.
t Mr. Channel.
APPENDIX. SO 497
31. Reverso, tristis fertur casus,
| Et miserandum.omen |
Collegii cui Rubens Nasus
Pre foribus dat nomen. —
32. Dederunt illi Principalem *
Rectores bi severi, |
Distortis oculis; et qualem
. Natura vult caveri.
33. Mox Aides ingredi conatus :
Non unquam senescentes,
Stupescens audio ejulatus- -
Horrenda sustinentis 4
34. Quod dulce nuper domicilium
Ingenuis alendis ;
Nunc merum est ergastulum
Innocuis torquendis.
35. Ad flentem me recipio tandem
Flens ipse Magdelenam :
Et gemens video eandem
Vacuitate plenam.:
96. Que felix dudum ornabatur
Frequentibus Alumnis,
Que suaviter innitebatur _
Doctissimis columnis.
97. Num lapsis fulcris queis vigebat
Videres humi stratam :
Et prole densa quá gaudebat,
En miseré orbatam.
38. He sedes comptiores muse
Quas habuére sibi
Nunc densis tenebris offuse
Et Zim et Ozim ibi.]
* Dr. Greenwood Lippus,
t Mr.Collier postea Bedellus qui tortus fuerat per Chiliarch:
t Vide Isa. xiii, 21,
Kk
. 498
APPENDIX.
. Pro * preside (cui quemquam parem
Vix setas nostra dedit)
En vobis stultum Capularem +
Ad clavum jam qui sedet.
. Quam vereor ne diro omine
Septem regrediantur
|: D&monia, divino numine
42.
43.
| 46.
Que quondam pellebantur.
. Quocunque breviter flectebam,
Aut dirigebam Visum :
Id totum induit quod videbam
Aut lachrimas aut risum.
Ingemui, dum viros video
Doctissimos ejectos :
Et contra, alternatim rideo,
Stolidulos suffectos.
O probam reformandi Artem?
Quee medicina datur? '
Que curat, ut curamus partem
Cum totum exscindatur.
. Quadratos homines quz jubet
Et doctos extirpandos;
Et nebulones prout lubet
Rotundos surrogandos.
. Collegia petis? Leges duras
Habes, nil fas videri,
Preeter e&&des et structuras ;
Scholares abiére.
Culinas illic frigescentes,
Capellas sine precibus,
In Cellis cernas sitientes,
Et Aulas sive Messibus.
* Dr. Oliver.
t Dr. Goodwin, vulgo vocatus Dr. Nine Caps.
APPENDIX: - 499
47. In templis qucevis Conciones,
Aut quicquid est decorum ?
‘ Habebis hzsitationes
Extemporaneorum.
48. Interea quid oppidani
With all their quaint devices
Qui novas hasce (male sani)
Exoptavere vices?
49. Erecta cornua gerebant,
Dum montes hi parturiunt :
Et nunc fastidiunt, quz volebant
Et fortitur esuriunt.
50. Heu! ingens rerum ornamentum
Et evi decus pridem ;
Quo tandem pacto hoc perventum,
Ut idem non sit idem ?
561. Nam vix a quoquam quod narratur
Obventum olim Somnio,
Compertum erit si queratur
Oxonium in Oxonio.
Kk2
| No. IX.
DEATH'S ALARUM:
A
Junecal Sermon .
ON THE RIGHT REVEREND JOSEPH HALL, BISHOP
OF NORWICH.
mr c woo d
BY J. WHITEFOOT.
TO THE REVEREND HIS MUCH-HONORED FRIEND
ROBERT HALL, D.D.
ELDEST SON TO THE RIGHT REVEREND JOSEPH,
LATE L. B. OF NORWICH.
SIR,
It is an undoubted Canon of the Apostles, That the
Elder that rules well, and especially that. labours too
in the word and doctrine, should be counted worthy of
double honour; such an one was your reverend father,
by the good report of all men, and of the truth itself.
And the double honour that the Apostle allowed him,
he was once, by the bounty of his Christian Prince,
worthily possessed of; though of late, as we all know,
he was muzzled from the enjoyment thereof. But envy
itself, (and if there be any thing worse) cannot deprive
him of his double honour: one part whereof he hath
already enjoyed in his life-time, in the hearts, tongues,
and pens of those-that lived with him, in this and other
nations. The second part remains still due to him, after
his death; which. he cannot want, whiles there are any
living whose tongues are capable of giving a true praise.
This poor piece was designed to that just end; that.is,
next to the glory of God, to the due honour of his faithful
servant. That it is no more worthy of his name, isa
>
504 APPENDIX.
second part of my sorrow, for his death. It contains a
short representation of him taken in haste, as all pictures
are which are done after the party's death; yet might it
have been done nearer to the life, had it not fallen into a
very unskilful hand: but besides that, it hath the common
disadvantage of all writings, which are but the dead
shadows of the living voice; and therefore no marvel,
if this wants much of that little grace and vivacity,
which it might seem to have in the delivery.
Such as it is, Sir, it was, without consulting my voice,
voted to the Press, by them that heard it, and as much
desired by them that heard it not, because they heard
not of it, till it was past the reach of the ear. And
they were neither few, nor slight persons that were much
discontented gt their absence from the too private Com-
memoration of, so worthy a person, caused by the sudden
determination of the time. To give them some satis-
faction, I waa enforced to yield to the publication of
these notes. Whereto I was also encouraged, because
promised, by the kind judgements of them that heard
them, that they could not but find some good entertain-
ment from most men, for his sake, of whom they repre-
sent so willing, thaugh weak, a remembrance. I hope
also they may afford some present satisfaction to the
many, that justly expect a better account of his Life ;
which in your name, by whom it is best able to be done,
I here-nresyme to pramise, in convenient time; and that
the rather, because I am_not ignorant .of your being
furnished of some modest and yet remarkable collections
thereof, left by his own Pen. I doubt not but that you
esteem it a special part of your owne duty, as well as
your honour, to follow the straight steps of his industrious
and holy life. And to afford the president thereof to tbe
imitation of others, will be a kindness very seasonable in
APPENDIX. 005
these evil days. And very useful it may be after many
others of the ancient Bishop’s lives, now forgotten, than
which it is certain there never were. any more saint-like,
since those of their predecessors the Apostles, towards a
demonstration that prelacy, and piety, are not such
inconsistent things, as some would make them; and that
the men which are of, or for, that order, should not be
excluded (as by the monopolizers of that name they now
are) from the number of saints; and consequently not
debarred from that which is now asserted to be the
common interest, and indefesible right of all saints
of whatever persuasion; that is the liberty (if not of
discipline, yet ) of worshiping God, according to their con-
science, and the best light of their own understanding.
To conclude: your nearest relation, claims the prime
interest in whatsoever shall pretend to your Father's
name; and therefore, this, Sir, which is to be reckoned
inter parentalia, is with the Author,
Your's at command,
To serve you in the Lord,
From my Study in St, Peter, .
Norwich, Nov. 10, 1656. J. W.
GENESIS xlvii, 29.
And the time drew nigh that Israel must die.
IN the funeral sermons of the. ancients, the
person deceased was the only text; and the
sermon nothing but an anatomy lecture upon the.
dead man’s life. Should I have imitated that
custom upon this occasion, by taking na other
text, than that of this saint's life; that which the
psalmist saith of the life of man, would, very
like, have been the censure of my sermon:
namely, that it was but as a tale that was told.
Ps. xc, 9. But methinks I might .have had a
sufficient apology for.that, not from.the custom
of the fathers only, but from Scripture itself; . a
good part whereof is altogether taken up with a
narrative of the lives of saints; and those too,
not altogether canonical in every line... And we
have a saint to speak of, (1 think I may presume
to say). as eminent an one as some of them. .
But yet I hold myself by modern. custom
obliged to chuse another text, first, or. last; and
I thought it would do best to give it the: prece-
t
508 . APPENDIX.
" dence; you have heard already what it is, short
and plain, agreeable to the design of. my discourse
upon it, which must be short, because I have
another text to take up, when I have done with
this; and plain, because that suits best with my
own abilities, and the sadness of the occasion.
And the time drew nigh that Israel must die. So
it is in the English paraphrase; for a verbal
translation according to the Hebrew text, would
run thus: And the days of Israel drew xear to
die. And so our translator renders the same
words, 1 Kings i1; Deut. xxxi,14. But I shall
not take upon me to correct the present transla-
tion, because it agrees well enough with the
sense, and better with the words too, than tbat
ef the vulgar latin, as 1 shall have occasion to
shew by and by.
Four things I have to consider i in this text: 1.
The necessity of Israel's death, Israel must die.
2. 'The time of bis death, there was & certain
time when Israel must die. 3. The appropin-
quation of that time, the ime drew mgh. 4.
Israel's foresight, and consideration of the ap-
proach of that time. This the vulgar Latin hath
distinctly expressed, Cumque appropinguare cerne-
ret diem mortis sue, When he saw the day of has
death drew nigh. ‘That Cerneret, 1 confess, is an
addition to the words, but not to the sense of
the text. For that Israel did foresee and con-
APPENDIX. | 509
sider the approach of his death, is plainly
imphed, as the reason why he took such a
careful order with his som Joseph, about €he
place of his burtal, as you may read in the words
following my text. The like order did Joseph
hrmself give to his sons, about his burial, when
he saw his time to die drew nigh. Gen. 1], 25, 26
Both of them were very solicitous to be buried
in the land of Canaan. Lyra thinks it was,
because they foresaw, by a spirit of prophecy,
that in that country there would be a resurrection
of many saints with Christ, when he should rise
again, and they hoped to be of the number, and
therefore would be buried there. This conceit is
scarce so much as probable.
But that reason which the Rabbins gme, is a
ridiculous absurdity; namely, because there shall.
be no resurrection at all of any but Jews,.and -of
them only in the land of Canaan; whither all
bodies that are not buried there ‘must be rolled
through some secret burrows ‘of the earth; from
their most distant places of ‘burial, before they
can be raised to life:* this fancy is near akin to a
multitude more of those men's. But the author
tothe Hebrews hath told us the true reason of
their desires in this point: By faith Joseph when
* Buxtorfii Synagega Jud. c. 1.
‘510 APPENDIX.
he.died made mention of the departing of the chil-
dren of Israel out of Egypt, and gave: command-
ment concerning his bones ; (Heb. xi, 22.) namely,
that they should: be ‘carried with’ them into
Canaan: thereby declaring his own, and con-
firming their faith, concerning their deliverance
out of the Egyptian thraldom, which for some
time they were yet to indure, and their certain
possession of the land of promise. 7
i: am now to begin with the first particular
fore-mentioned ; the death of Israel, and. the
necessity thereof, Israel must die. I told you
before:the vulgar translator had taken the bold.
ness to put in a word into the text, and that T
excused, for its agreement with, and explication
of the sense. But I must tell you also, he hath
. left.out another word, instead of that, which
cannot so well be excused. For he reads, Cámq;
appropinquare : cerneret diem mortis, leaving out
the name of Jsrael, which is found in the original.
I am not so great a friend to that translation, as
to excuse that presumption, if such it were, and
not rather an oversight, left. yet uncorrected, in
all the copies that I have seen.
. The name of Israel is too considerable a word
to be left out in the text, whether we respect the
person signified by that name, or the signification
of the name. -
First, consider the person signified by that
‘ APPENDIX. 511
‘mame, and you shall find he^was as eminent -an
one, as any that is named in Scriptare: And for
the signification of the name, you shall hear also,
that.is very. considerable, and so ‘declared by
God himself, who both gave the name, and: the
true interpretation thereof. First, let us a little
inquire:after the person signified .by this name,
Israel :: who. was he? "The: man was a Binomius,
one that had two names: his original. name was
Jacob, and there was a mystery in that name, as
you.may.find, Gen. xxv, 26; Hos. xii, 3. This
name of Israel was an agnomen, an. alias to the
name.of Jacob; a new name given. him . by : his
‘godfather the angel, at his confirmation: you
may read the story of it, (Gen. xxxii, 28.) Thy
name shall be no more called Jacob, but Israel.
psya xa Tyuov-ovoua abrov ng sucebaas. Naz. .A great
and honorable name given him for.a reward of his
prety. So the Lord changed the name of Abram
his grandfather, into Abraham. Gen. xvii,5. .And *
he was the first man in the world, ‘whose .name.
was ever given, or changed by God. . And itis
well noted, there never was any man. received ‘a
name immediately from God, but was either .an
eminent person, or a type of some great and
notable matter in the church. -
There is no name in Scripture more famous,
than that of Israel. Perertus puts the .qnestion,
why the story of Israel’s life, is more fully set
$12 APPENDIX.
forth than any of the Patriarchs: and gives this
reason for it; because he was, tofsus et solius
populi Det Parens, the Father of all, and the
onely people of God, having no other children
besides the twelve patriarchs, the heads of the
twelve tribes of Israel: which cannot be said
— either of Abraham or Isaac:. for Abraham we
know had Ishmael as well as Isaac: and so was
not the father of. the faithfnl only, but of tbe
Ishmaelites too. Amd Isaac had Esau as well
as Jacob, and so was father of the. Edomifes, as
wellas lsraelites; but Jacob was father of the
Israelites only: and that ye know in the Old
Testament is the common name of the people of
God; who are sometimes called the Children of
Israel, sometimes Israel, and sometinses Israelites.
As we are now called Christians . from: Ghust,. a0
were the people of God of old called Jsrachtes
from this Israel. And it is observed, when
speech is :of the infirmities of the.church, :she is
called Jacob; but when:her.glory and: valour is
signified, she is called larsel. Israel ihad -the
honour first to receive:bis .mame fróm: God bim-
self, and then to give:a name to.allthe .people:of
God; yea, and to:Ged. himself too, for he is fre-
quently called The God of Israel, The Hope of
Israel, The Strength of Israel, The Rock of
Israel, The King of Israel, The Savtour of
Israel, &c. And Christ is.called, The Holy One
APPENDIX. 513
of Israel, The Glory of Israel. Many and
glorious things are spoken of this name, too
many to be here recounted. The sum of all is
comprehended in the words that were put into
Moses’ mouth, to speak. unto Pharaoh, (Exod.
iv, 22.) Thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, thus saith
the Lord, Israel is my son, my first-born: or in
that of the prophet, quoted by the apostle, The
Lord said, I have loved Jacob, (that is Israel,)
and I hated Esau. Mal.i,2; Rom. ix, 13. He
was the famous instance of God’s free and eternal
election. One that was sanctified from the
womb, and in it, asis thought. The blessings of
Israel prevailed above the blessings of his fathers.
Gen. xlix, 26: Such was the honour of the
person signified by this name.
‘Now for the signification of the name, I find
some variety in the opinion of the ancients: some.
will have it to signify, Homo videns Deum, a
man seeing God, as Philo, and most of the fathers
after him. Some translate it, Rectus Dei, a right
(or upright) man of God. This signification is
oft mentioned, and sometimes approved by S.
Hierom. ‘And very true it is, that both these
significations of the name will agree very well to
the person of Israel; and well enough with the
namie itself, as it may be written and pointed in
Hebrew. Israel was indeed *x »n v» a man that
saw God, and that oftener than any of the
Li |
-
514 APPENDIX,
patriarchs: we have seven or eight of his visions
recorded in Scripture, and one of them was then
when he received this name, whereupon he called
the place Peniel, (Gen. xxxii, 30.) giving the
interpretation, For I. have seen God face to face.
2. Israel was Rectus Dei, a right upright man,
ow w& on vw, Vir simplex, amas, in the Sept.
amass, Saith Aquila, (Gen. xxv, 27.) a plain down-
right man: our Saviour alludes to this place,
(John i, 47.) where he saith of Nathanael, that he
was a true Israeltte indeed, in whom is no guile.
But the truth is, these are but human conceits
of the Etymology of his name. The special and
proper signification and reason of this name is
given by the angel himself, that gave him that
name, (Gen. xxxii, 28.) Thy name shall be no
more called Jacob, (that is, Jacob only,) but
Israel; for as a prince hast thou power with God,
and with men, and hast prevailed. This is the
true interpretation of his name, Princeps cum
Deo, a prince with God. . He prevailed with
God, first for the blessing, and by that blessing
he prevailed with men, with Laban, and with
Esau, when the one followed, and the other met
him with their threatening troops; and. prevail
he did like a mighty prince with other men too;
for with his sword and his bow, he conquered
from the Amerite, (Gen. xlviii, 22.) that country
which he gave to his son Joseph for a possession :
APPENDIX. 615
Israel and Jacob too, had both names from
striving and from prevailing. The first name
Jacob, he received in token that.he should prevail
over his brother Esau: the second name, Israel,
he had in testimony that he had prevailed with
God, and he that prevails with God cannot be
overcome by men.
But this victorious prince, this famous victor
that prevailed both with God and men, was
supplanted, was overcome at last by death, as is
signified in my text: Israel must die, as well as
Esau, he whom God /oved, as well as he that
.was hated. Death is no argument of God's
hatred, Neither death nor life can separate Israel
From the love of God. He that was loved of God
before he was born, was no less beloved when he
was dead. If any man might have prevailed
against death, or been excused from it, one
should have thought Israel should: but there is
no such privilege belongs to Israel; no privilege
from death, that death which the text. speaks of,
the death of the body. But in another sense it
is true, Israel did prevail over death: death
itself, with his sting, was end shall be swallowed
up in victory by him—the gates of hell did not
prevail over him. For the living God és the God
of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Israel, (Matt.
xxii, 32.) And God is nat the God of the dead,
916 APPENDIX.
but of the living. Israel therefore is not quite
dead, but still lives, and shall do for ever. |
But for all that, it was true, Zsrael must die.
Though the word must is not in the original
letter, yet it is in the sense: and if there had not
been a necessity for Israel to die, we had not
been here now to mourn over our Father Israel,
that is dead. But why must? ‘What necessity
was there that Israel must die? "The original
cause of death we may read in the first mention
that is made of death, (Gen. ii, 17.) The day
thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely die. Thou,
and all thine, (non uni, sed umiversitati dicitur
moriendo morterts,) in dying thou shalt die: that
is, certainly without remedy. The blasphemous
Jews say, Adam and his posterity were therefore
condemned to die, because out of his posterity
there was a man to come that would make him-
self a God: many such there were, but they
meant it of Christ. Whereas the Scriptures, as
well theirs as ours, tell us it was because they
would have made themselves gods, listening too
ambitiously to the serpent that promised them
the preferment, in his eritis sicut dii, ye shall be
as Gods. But you will say, hath not Chnst
then redeemed Israel? We trust he hath, nay
we are sure of it: as sure as we are that him-
self the Holy One of Israel, is risen from
the dead; so sure we are that Israel is, and
APPENDIX. | 517
shall be redeemed from death. The soul is
redeemed from the gates of hell, and the body
shall be redeemed from the grave in due time,
by a blessed resurrection, which is called the
redemption of the body; (Rom. viii, 23.) but for
that redemption we must wait till the appointed
time come. But is that any privilege of Israel’s?
Shall not Esau be partaker of that redemption
as well as Israel? I answer, no; and yet it is
true, (and an heresie in the Socinians to deny it)
his body shall be raised again from the grave;
but that will be no redemption from prison, but
a bringing forth to execution. We never read of
a wicked man raised from the dead in Scripture,
though there be many examples of resurrection in
both testaments.
But why might not Israel be excused from
dying at all, and so this miraculous redemption
of the body be spared? I answer, because the
Holy One of Israel, (that was as well the exam-
ple, as the author of our redemption) was not
excused: and we are predestinate to be made
conformable to the image of Christ, that he might
be the first-born among many brethren; (Rom.
viii, 29.) conformable to his sufferings, and to his
death, cuj44oppovj.tvog Tw ÜayaTa auTE. Phil. iii, 10.
Obedient, as he was, so must we be, unfo the
death. Our bodies are not to be made like unto
his glorious body, till they be made vile by death |
as his was.
518 APPENDIX.
Irsae] must die in Egypt, before he can be
- carried into Canaan. (ver 30.) Flesh and bloed
cannot inherit the kingdom of heaven. That
the Apostle saith of Israel, is true in another
sense than he meant: Ali ts not Israel, that $$ qf
Israel, Rom. ix, 6. There is an Beau struggling
with Jacob whiles we are in the flesh, a body of
flesh striving with the spirit, and though it be
supplanted by Jacob in the new birth, yet it will
not be quite extirpate, till by death we shall be —
delivered from this body of death. Cum hae
controversia nati sumus (saith Augustine,) these
two twins make a perpetual war in us, and he
peace is to be expected till they be parted by
death. The nerve of the flesh is shrunk and
lamed in the combat with the spirit, bat not
quite cut asunder; and Israel halts all his life-
time in the flesh: Non enim est rectipes virtus in
corpore moríali, saith Philo. Divines are of
opinion, that in all those that Christ cured of
any bodily disease he made a perfect cure, not
of that disease only, but of all others, and did
integram corporis sanitatem conferre; left no
relics of infirmity behind him. How true that
is, I know not; but sure we are, it is not so in
the spiritual cure; the spirits of the just are not
made perfect till death. There is a sin that
cleaves close to us, that will not be put off till
we be uncloathed by death. Jerael tharefore
APPENDIX. 519
must die, that he may be free from sin. Death
came in by sin, and sin goes out by death. So
do the sorrows of life by those of death: We
must die ence, that we may die unto sin. It is the
only panacea or all-heal: nothing but the winding-
sheet can wipe away all tears from our eyes.
A barbarous kind of mercy it was of T'amberiain,
to cause all the lepers of the country to be put
to death, to rid them of their misery: but in God
it is a real mercy, as well as justice, to soul and
body too, to let men die, to free them from the
leprosy of the soul, and the miseries of the body.
Israel must die that he may rest from his labours,
and reap the fruits of them. There is no enter-
ing into God’s rest, but by this sleep. Job calls
man an Atreling, (chap. xiv,6.) so doth our
Saviour in the parable: (Matt. xx, 1.) and the
hireling servant may not betake him to his rest,
nor receive his wages till night. When Moses
was to die, the Lord bid him first come up, and
then die, (Deut. xxxii, 48, 49.) Ascende et morere ;*
but we must first die before we can ascend to
the mount of the Lord. "There can be no perfect
visions of God, but in the night of death: so
darkness was before light, and the evening is
before the morning. |
*. Naz. in laud. Basilii.
520 APPENDIX.
We can never be perfectly possessed of the
glorious liberty of the sons God, till we get out
of the prison of the body, and so be as the
Psalmist speaks, free among the dead. Ps.
Ixxxvili, 5. o uaxaprm, Was a common Fuphe-
mismus among the Greeks for a dead man; but
it is indeed the proper title of a saint. Ante
obitum nemo, &c. The spirit, in truth, is never
perfectly alive till the body be dead. It is but
as it were buried alive in the body. A kind of
mortification it is to the soul to live in the body:
To copa cwux, Plato. It doth neither know nor
see itself, whiles it is the flesh.
Death indeed is called sleep usually; but as
. Tertullian excellently shews in his: book De
Anima, it is rather an awaking of the soul, which
in the body is asleep, and doth but dream of
things, and therefore is grossly mistaken in all its
notions. De oppanso corporis erumpit in apertum
ad meram, et puram, et suam. lucem—ut de somno
emergens ab imaginibus ad veritates.*
To conclude this point: the bird in. the
breast can never be perfectly taught to sing its
heavenly note of Hallelujah till it gets out of
its cage, and be set upon the tree of life, which
is in Paradise.
* Tertullian, cap. 63.
APPENDIX. 521.
We have heard of the necessity of Israel's
death, and some reasons of it: but what is that.
to us? What use may we make of this point?
why this: it will afford us a double argument
to reconcile us to the thoughts of death. The
first is that which Elijah used in his petition for
death, (1 Kings xix, 4.) Jt is enough now, O
Lord, take away my life, for I am not better than
my fathers. Itis enough to make us content to
die, though perhaps not ground enough to warrant
as to pray for it, as Elijah did, not without some
spice of impatience, as is judged: but to make
us content to die, this is enough, that we are not
better than our Fathers. It is a forlorn error
to think, that company will abate the misery of the
second death; but of the first it may, especially
when it is so good. Israel is dead, and so is
Isaac, and Abraham, and all the Fathers: and
are we better than they? We shall fare no
‘worse than they in dying, if we be their children ;.
and to desire to fare better than any of them,
‘were worse than a vanity. It were too much
pride to think ourselves so good as they. And
as we are not so good in our lives, so neither
is our condition so good as their’s whilst we live,
but when we: die it may, for then we shall de
gathered to our fathers.
And that is another good argument to reconcile
us to death; because thereby we shall be
522 APPENDIX.
guthered to our fathers; as is said of Abraham and
many othere of the holy fathers; so it is said of
Israel when he died, he was gathered to his
people. Gen. xlix, 33. That phrase is primarily
meant of the body, which goeth to the grave,
ihe house appointed for all living, as Job calls it,
chap. xxx, 23. Yet may it be understood of the
soul too, which by death is gathered to 4», the
congregation-houxe of: souls, or the World of
Souls: owen cov, as the Hebrews call it. And
the souls of God’s saints are gathered revyuper
neu tx mpuTdlxay sv upavg ameysypaumsser, L'0 the
general assembly and church of the first-born,
which are wretten (in albo celesti) in heaven, and
to the spirits of just men made perfect. Heb. xii, 13,
There we shall meet with Abraham, and Isaac,
and all the Fathers; with the glorious company
of the Apostles, the goodly fellowship. of the
prophets, and the noble army of martyrs.
Israel rejoiced much for the hopes he had to
see his son Joseph, though it were in. Egypt:
(Gen. xliv, 27, 28.) how much more cause have
we to rejoice for the hopes we have to see
Israel himself, his, and our Joseph, and all the
rest of our fathers and brethren in tbe heavenly
Canaan, and to see the Holy One of Israel, the
glory of Israel, the Lord Jesus.
When the disciples saw but two of the fathers
with Christ on Mount Tabor, covered with a
APPENDIX. 623
elight veil of glory, such as their bodily eyes
were capable of, they were so ravished with the
sight, that they said, it was good being there,
(Matt. xvii, 4.) aud would therefore have been
building tabernacles there to dwell, and yet them-
selves were but mere spectators of that glory;
they were not transfigured; how munch better
will that Being be, where we shall not only
be with Christ where he is, and behold his glory,
as he prayed for us: (Jobn xvii, 14.) and that
with open face too, as St. Paul speaks, but shall
be changed into the same image, from glory to
glory. 2 Cor. iii, 18.
Christ is said to be with ws here, (Matt.
xxviii, 29.) but we are never said to be with him
in this world: he is with us by his Spirit here, but
we shall be with him by our spirits when we
die — Esse Christum cum Paulo magna securitas ;
esse Paulum cum Christo summa felicitas. Ber.
nard. Christ’s presence with us by his Spirit is
& great comfort to ours, but the heighth of glory
is for us to be with bin. -
Whea Israel had seen the face of Joseph, he
was content to die. Gen. xlvi,30. Now let me
die, since 4 have seen thy face. And old Simeon,
when he had seen Christ in the temple, sings his
own requiem, Nunc dimitiis,—Now lettest thou
thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen
thy salvatton. Luke ii, 29. And have not we
524 | APPENDIX.
as good reason to be willing, at least with our
dismission, that so we may come to see him, and
his (that is, our own) salvation? Israel must die,
that he may fully make good the first-mentioned
signification of his name, that he may see God ;
for the beatifical vision can never be, till death
hath closed the bodily eyes. It was a speech of
the heathen orator, in his Book De Senectute,
that he was much taken with a desire to see the
Roman patriots, that were dead, whom he loved
and honoured ; and not them only whom he had
seen and known before, but those that he had
read and heard of* How much more reason
have we to desire to see our fathers, and holy
friends, with all the eminent saints of God, that
we have read, and heard of; to see them, I say,
in such a state of glory as he never dreamed of?
Prestolatur nos Ecclesia Primitivorum, desi-
derant nos Sancti, expectant nos Justi, &c. They
. expect us, saith the devout Abbot of Claraval,
It is part of their hopeful desires to see us, and
bid us welcome; and shall we then be unwilling
io go to them, that so kindly long and wait for
us? We find in the Old Testament many of the
saints singing Loth to depart, and deprecating
...* Equidem efferor studio patres vestros, quos colui" et dilexi
videndi. Neque vero eos solum convenire aveo quos ipse
cognovi, sed illos etiam de quibus audivi et legi. ic de Sen.
APPENDIX. 525
their threatened dissolutions; which some think
was, because the promise of eternal life was but
ebscurely known to them: the sight of heaven
clouded from them, as the type of it in the
temple was hidden from the people by the veil:
but this cloud is cleared up by the gospel, and.
Moses’ veil is taken away, Christ hath brought
life and immortality to light. 2Tim.i,10. It
becomes not Christians therefore to retain the
Old Testament spirit still to shrink at the sight
of death, but to be ready to say as St. Paul did,
I desire to: be dissolved, and to be with Christ,
which ds, mox» parrov XQEiT TOV, far better. The
phrase looks like a Solecism in the Greek, but.
we should not have gone ‘about to mend it ‘in.
English, by abating the sense, in giving but one:
adverb for two; very far or very much.better, the
words signify. |
: What long and tedious journeys have many a
devout Pilgrim taken, to see nothing but the old
land of Canaan, now turned into /Egypt; the
place. where sometimes the Fathers lived and
died, but so long since, that their very graves are
buried, and not to be found.
To conclude this point:
Brethren, let us but be sure we are true Israel-
ites indeed, in faith and holiness, and then never
let us fear death.
526 APPENDIX.
HI. 1 have done with the first point, Israel's
death, with the necessity, reason, and use of it.
The second follows; and that is, the time of
Israel's death. The royal preacher, (Eccles. iii, 1.)
saith, Z'o every thing there ts a season, and a time ta
every purpose under the heaven; and then by way
of induction sets down a laxge catalogue of
. things that have their time here below. 1 may
callit bis Fasciculus temporum, as an old author
calls his book : all his instances are no other than
the ordinary changes of an earthly hfe. And it
is well noted by St. Ambrose upon the first verse,
where he satth, that there $$ & tune for every thing
under the heaven: that all things under heaven
are temporal, and by consequence, mutable. But
the Psalmist saith, Fhe heavens themselves shali
be changed. Ps. cii,26. He means those visible
heavens: the sun itself, and the stars that are
above it, as well as all things under it, shall be
changed. But in the heaven of heavens there
wil be no change, because no such thing as
time will be there: allis eternal m heaven: but
under heaven all things have their time. The
lowest story of the heavens, by the phalesophers’
account, is that of the moon, which is the com-
mon emblem of mutability: and € you eount the
particulars of Solomon's changes in that chapter,
you shall find just as many as are the days in a
APPENDIX. 527
common lunary month, twenty-eight, and all of
them like the changes of the moon, nothing but
increasing and decreasing. ‘The whole set of his
changes is drawn chequerwise, by a just division
of white and black, good and evil things, after
the pattern that God gave when he first set the
division of times, by dividing of light fram dark-
ness, and making each day to divide itself into
an evening and a morning: and the first instance
that Solomon gives of his temporalities, is that of
the morning and evening of man's life: a time to
be born, and a time to de. The primitive
Christians confounded the distinction of these
two times, by calling the days of their martyr’s
deaths their Natalstia, or birth-days. And the
holy preacher, (chap. vit, 1.) prefers the time ef
death before that of birth: the coffin before the
cradle. And though. that be a paradox, ae some
other things are, which he there adds, yet it is no
Paralogy in reason; but so evidently true, as
some mere naturalists have found reason to grant
it; else would not the Thracians have wept at
their births, and rejoiced at their funerals. 1
have no leisure now to unriddle that paradox:
but in the mean time it is certain there is a dime
to dre, as sure as a tame to be born; nay, more
sure indeed ; never man was born, but either is
dead, or must die; except some one or two,
Enoch and Elias, that were privileged by miracle;
528 APPENDIX.
and that privilege, said Tertullian, -was but a
reprieve or a suspension for a time, till Antichrist
comes, and then they must be slain for the two
witnesses, spoken of by St. John, Rev. xi, 7. But
St. Paul hath given us another exception ; namely,
of all those which shall be found alive at, the
resurrection, when the Lord Jesus shall come again
to judge both the quick and the dead : that is, not
the righteous that lived by faith, and the wicked
that died in their sins, as Augustine and Chrysos-
iome allegorize the words; nor yet the immor-
‘tal soul, and the mortal body, as Theophylact
glosseth the text: but as St. Paul interprets,
those that are alive at his coming, and those that
shall be dead before. 1'Thess.iv, 15,17. For
we shall not all sleep, but we all shall be changed.
1 Cor. xv,52. The vulgar latin denies that
change, and therefore hath strangely changed
the text, as may be seen. The Pontificians will
not admit their exemption from death: and we
shall not now dispute the point. But with these
exceptions, and possibly some few others not
recorded in Scripture, it is certain never inan. was
born, nor shall be, but had, or must have, a time
to die. But many an one hath found a time to
die that never. was born: their time to die having
prevented their time to be born. | Many have
been seen dead, that never were seen alive; and
many are dead that never were seen at all. 1t 1s
APPENDIX. 529
too plain a point to spend time upon: if Israel
‘must die, he must have a time for it. But
whether that time were certain and fixed, .or not,
is a solemn question ;* large and learned debates
are made about it, and strong contests between
the physician and the divine. The question is
not to be resolved from this text, and I have
now no leisure to look into many others: but
seeing the hairs of our head are numbered, it is
more than probable so are the days, yea the
hours, and minutes of-our lives. A sparrow
falls not to the ground without God's Providence,
much less doth a man. The great world hath
its last day set and certain to him that made it:
so sure hath every little world; but of that day
and hour knoweth no man. But certain it is, to
God nothing is uncertain: the doctrine of his
prescience (except with the Socinians, we will
deny the universal extent of it) will demonstrate
the truth in this question, in the affirmative: for
that which is not certain, cannot be certainly
foreseen. Yet will it not follow that this event,
and all things else, are absolutely necessary, by
a fatal connexion, or necessary operation and
efficacy of their particular causes, according to
the opinion of the new Stoic, to whom I can
* Beverovitius de termino vitz,
Mm
5630 APPENDIX.
allow the name of a philosopher,* but not of a
— Christian, till he hath recanted his Leviathan of
heresies wherein he allows men the liberty of
an express denial of Christ, if the infidel magis-
trate commands it:T so making all martyrs rebels
to their princes, and murtherers of themselves.
The man is no professed Turk, (thank a christian
magistrate) but hath told us in effect he would
be so, as well in other points as that of his fatality,
if his prince would have him: for the Alcoran
with the civil sanction, is by his doctrine as
canonical as the Gospel. Whether it be certain
which Cajetan and Alvarez have resolved, namely,
that to comprehend how the decrees and con-
course of God's will, doth agree with the liberty
of man’s will; (whereupon the tame of death
seems much to depend) is above the understand-
ing of any man in this life, I well know not: but
I am willing to confess it is above mine. Above
my understanding I say it is, so are divers other
mysteries of our religion, but I thank God not
above my faith. For this I believe, that neither
God’s prescience, nor his decrees, do infer, much
less cause any necessity in the manner of the
production of their objects: because God hath
decreed, and therefore foreseen that many things
* Mr. T. H. + Pag. 271.
APPENDIX. 531
shall noi be necessarily but contingently, and yet
certainly produced. | |
But to tura to the prefixed parts of my dis-
course. We have dispatched two of them, — 7" he
' necessity of Israel's death, and the time of it: two
more are remaining, wherein I must be brief.
The next is the appropinquation of the time;
The time drew nigh, or the days drew nigh, that
Israel must die. When Pharaoh asked him how
old he was, (ver. 9.) he told him, kis days were
few, and spake it not in reference only to the
time past of his life, but, as he is commonly
understood with respect to the whole expected
term thereof; and that being &o, the time of his
death could never be far off. Indeed nothing
can be far off, that 1s within the bounds of time:
much less can the day of death be so, in a life
that is short; and such is the longest mortal life.
Israel's days were few in comparison of the
days of his fathers, as he interprets himself, yet
"were they as many again as the ordinary num-
ber of man's days, by Moses's reckoning: for
Israel lived one hundred and forty-seven years,
as you may read in the verse before my text:
and the days of our years, saith Moses, (Ps. xc,
10.) are Out seventy years, and scarce the
seventieth person lives so long; and yet Moses
himself lived almost twice as long, and so did his
brother Aaron, but they were extraordinartes.
Mm 2
992 APPENDIX.
The life of man in Scripture is usually reckoned
by days, which are the shortest natural divisions
of time ; and sometimes it is called but one day:
and the longest mortal life that ever was, came
short of one day, by God's account, to whom
a thousand years are but as one day., And now
he that lives longest, seldom attains to. one hour,
or the twelfth part of such a day. The known
shortness of life, set forth in Scripture by a multi-
tude of similitudes, is demonstration enough to
any man, that his time to die draws nigh. But
that is a comparative word admitting. of many
degrees: in a short way the end is always near,
but grows nearer the more steps a man hath set
init. So was it with Israel, he had multiplied
his steps till he was come to the stage that
David spake of, (1Sam. xx, 3.) There is but a
step between me and death. —
The time drew nigh that Israel must die; now
when he spake to Joseph about his burial, as
followeth in the verse: but how nigh we know
not precisely, no more perhaps did he. All
the Astrologers in /Egypt could not precisely
tell him the day and hour of his death: yet have
we a company of gypsies of that profession, that
will pretend to do it. But they are well con-
futed by S. Augustine,* from the example of
* De Civit, Dei. 1. 5.
inni is ERE —— M ———
APPENDIX. 439
these twins, Jacob and Esau, whose birthtime
was as near, as in nature it was possible: for
Esau was not quite born before Jacob ; Jacob's
hand was born before Esau's foot: and yet we
know the disposition of their bodies, and of their
minds, with the manner of their lives, was as
contrary, as if they had been born under the
most opposite horoscopes that are in the whole
sphere of heaven. Moses was brought up in all
the wisdom and learning of. /Egypt, (as St.
Stephen saith, Acts vii, 22.) that is, in the
sciences of Physic and Astrology, the most
famous learning of /Egypt; and yet could he not
number his own days, but prays to God in his
Psalm to teach him that art. Ps. xc, 12. Nor
did he desire to know the precise number of his
days, but only the wisdom to consider the paucity
of them, so as to improve them to the honor of
God, and the good of himself and his church.
To know the just time of our death, is not pos-
sible without a revelation; and therefore not to
be desired without presumption. It is a thing |
that depends much upon the arbitrary acts of
the will of both a man's self, and of others (as
constant experience teacheth) the knowledge
whereof is the peculiar property of Omniscience:
and therefore for men to.pretend to this know-
ledge from the stars is an impiety, not much
less than that of worshipping them, being a bold
934 APPENDIX.
intrusion into the most peculiar and eséential
privilege ef divine knowledge. Ht is enough for
us to know as much as Israel did, that‘our tithe
to die draws nigh, and so mach every man doth
know, that knows any thing at all.
Lyra thinks Israel did know the precise time
of his death by a spirit of prophecy: and such a
spirit we know he had, about ttrat time especially
when his time to die drew ‘nigh ; ‘as wppeared by
the prophetical blessings which he théh gave to
his sons. But to know that ‘his time to die was
nigh, he needed no prophetie spirit now, when
he was an old man, and bed-tid, as you may
find in the end of the chapter, ver. 31. Well
might he tell that his few days were alinost
spent, when his evt/ days (as ‘Solomon :cálls
them, Eccles. xii, 1.) «were come, and the years
did not ‘draw near, but were upon him, Wherem
he might say, I have no pleasure in them. "The
sun and the light, the moon and the stars, were
darkened. All the faculties of ‘his soul and
body: were weakened. The keepers of the house
trembled, and the strong ‘men bowed themselves.
His arms were so weak that he could scafce
strengthen them to lay them upon the heads of
his nephews, to bless them; and his legs could
no longer:bear his body, 'so ‘that -he was fain to
lie-by it. They that looked ‘out of the windows
(which some understand ‘of glass 'windows or
APPENDIX. | 585
spectacles) were darkened. His eyes were dim
with age; and when a man comes to that once,
that he js almost blind with age, he cannot but
see that his time to die draws nigh. A man
needs not to be told his lamp is nigh out, when
he sees and feels that the oil is spent, and
knows there is no more to be bought; 70 X
eraAcusjueyoy xci yngamaoy, slyus aQaveus, Heb. viii, 18.
There are many warnings of death, in diseases
of the body, perils and troubles of life, such as
David met withal, when he said, My soul is full
of troubles, and my life draws near to the grave.
Ps, Ixxxviii, 3. And some extraordinary warn-
ings we read of, which some have had from God
himself. Such as Moses, Aaron, and Hezekiah
had; and the. rich fool in the Gospel, Stulte, hac
nocte; Thou fool, this night shall thy soul be
required of thee. In human story there are
multitudes of examples of them, that have had
warnings, predictions, presages, and omens of
approaching death, especially great persons: the
. Historian* hath some of them almost in every one
of his Twelve Cesars. But few men were ever
the wiser or the better for.such uncertain, .and
for the most part unregarded warnings. "There
is no warning so infallible as that of old age; all
* Suetonius.
636 APPENDIX.
ethers may prove but false alarums, useful to
awaken men out.of security, and move them to.
make ready: but when the old man comes once,
especially that same rypCoyngav, Stlicernium, when
he.comes upon crutches, when he is blind and led,
be brings certain tidings that death is at hand.
'There are many affirmative signs of the near-
ness of death, that are certain, and old age is one
of them: but negative signs there are none, that
is, to shew that it 1s not near. A young man
doth not, cannot know, but that his time to die
may be nigh, but an old man knows it is so.
Life in Scripture is sometimes compared to a
shadow, so is death too; and the heathen poet
made it less, but the dream of a shadow, and
that but.of smoak.* Now shadows we.know are
not all.of a length, some are longer and some are
shorter, as life also is. But the longer the shadow
is, the more like, and the more near, to night.
Jer. vi, 4. Longtores facie sunt umbre vesperi.
Life.is a vanishing shadow at all times, but the
longer it is, the nearer is the night of death.
Indeed our present life in the flesh is but the
shadow of life to the soul, darkened as now it
is oppanso corporis,T (Tertullian’s word) with the
* Xxiag ovap avYpworos. Pindar. Kai nov sik? parr m
xamvernia Asebylus.
+ Tid ow ss to £m sot xdiSavev, to xa Sat de Cm.
Euripid.
APPENDIX. 537
opacity of the body. The Greek tragedian could
not tell whether it should be called life or no.
The ghosts ór spirits of men when they are out
of the body are usually called umóre, shadows,
and that most like because of their incorporiety ;
but so termed they are too, from the imaginary
.configuration with the body, which in visions
they have appeared to have, and which Tertullian
and Jrengeus (upon the parable of Lazarus and
Dives, thought they really have. In which
respect they are also called aX&»a xauof», in
-Homer, as images of the body; and that they
are not altogether incorporeal themselves, but
have a kind of avyotiüeg coua, a splendid or lucid
body,. hath .been the opinion of some divines,
as well as philosophers, We use to compare
old thin bodies to ghosts and shadows in com-
mon speech; and so not the old man himself,
but every body that meets him, knows that his
time to die draws nigh. Other men may see it,
but himself must needs feel the cold-numbed >
hands of death coming upon bim, before they give
the fatal gripe.
Thus Israel knew.that his time drew nigh that
he must die. So.doth every old man, and every
young one too; .but every one doth not consider
itas Israel did. That is the last point in my
method; Israel's foresight or consideration of the
appropinquation of death. This I told you I
438 APPENDIX.
would note from the word cerseret in the vulgar
latin, because it agrees well with the sense,
though it be not in the original text. T'o see
death in Scripture phrase is to die: but in strict-
ness of sense death cannot be seen, because 1t.is
nothing but darkness; and when it comes, it
doth not only close, but put out.the eyes. The
Angel of Death, as tbe Jews call it, is. invisible:
but though it be so to bodily sense, yet is there
a: reasonable theory .to be had of death, and
nothing more.wmreasonable than not to foresee it.
That old prayer in the Litany is without excep-
tion in the Latin phrase, 4 morte improvisa libera
nos Domine. He that doth not foresee death,
cannot be provided for it; and he that is not,
must needs be eternally.undone. by it. :
We complain all, of shortness. of life, and.need
not hear so often of the physician’s aphorism, or
the rabbin’s sentence, to persuade the truth of
it: and yet .so little do we. consider it, that we
apend it as ,prodigally, as if it were too long, .as
indeed it is, for them that abuse it. And who
almost doth not? * The time we.have is not so
little, as that we lose is much: we commonly
use jt as if we knew not what to do with it,
and therefore. we throw away the best part of it.
* Non parum temporis babemus, sed multum perdimus. Sen.
APPENDIX. | 539
What large shares of it do we squander away
upon vain and idle company, and trifle away
upon foolish. mirth, miscalled recreations, vain
and worse pastimes, balls and revels, .drolleries,
and amorous'courtships? What a great deal of
it do we let the world ‘steal from us, besides all
that is necessarily due to it?. How great:a part
of it do we suffer the devil to run away with?
How many of our few days do we utterly waste
in doing nothing, or worse than nothing? And
is it not justice then in God to afford but a short
allowance ofthat, which he sees, i8 and will be
so much abused to his own dishonour, and the
hutt of the unhappy possessors? Nay, isit not
mercy indeed, rather than justice, to shorten their
days, that' will make no other use of them than
to their eternal ruin? And how few are they
that make any better improvement of their time?
Such Abaddons and Apollyons men are of:their
time, and therein of ther own souls.
No time is long enough. to bewail, nor words
enough, or sharp enough, to reprove the wretched
waste ‘that is made of this invaluable treasure,
which so many men spend only to treasure up
wrath against the day ef wrath. It is:a dreadful
thing to say, but more dreadful to see, that the
main business that many men spend their lives m,
is scarce any other, or better, than such as tends
to the assuring. of their. everlasting death, and
940 APPENDIX.
the certain prevention of that life, which only
is long. Oh that men should be so caitively
disposed, so malicious to their own souls, and so
kind to the devil! |
Who knows not tbat it is as impossible to secure
his life for one day, while he enjoys it, as it is to
recover it for another, when it is once lost? And
who will not grant that his end may be nearer
than the end of the present day? and yet where
is the man that, will be persuaded to consider
how near his time to die is, or may be? Every
man puts it far off, few are willing to hear of the
approach of it, at any hand. When the physician
tells men that death is near, many are not willing
to believe him. But for the Divine's warning,
who hath regarded it? Did men regard. the
admonition of the divine, concerning the approach
of death, they should not be so much troubled
‘at the physician's warning.
Did the old man consider, as well as know,
that his time to die draws nigh, one would think
he could not, in despite of his own reason, be
such a sot, as still to dote so much upon the
world, to carp and care to load himself with: a
viaticum of thick clay, when his journey is at an
end: to fraught his old leaking vessel, when he
is either in sight of his port, or splitting upon
the sands? Nay, did the young man consider
how near his time to die may be, he would think
APPENDIX. 941
it no such unseasonable counsel that Solomon
gives him, 7'o remember his Creator in the days of
his youth, before the evil days (of old age) come,
which perhaps shall never come: perhaps, did I
say? nay, itis very great odds they shall not!
Say thou wantest yet forty years or more of the
seventy, it is more than forty to one thou never
comest at that number. What is the reason that
men generally do so wilfully and obstinately
neglect the great business of working out their
own salvation? That they do so slight and
vilify their spiritual and eternal interest, as if it
were a matter of no valuable concernment: a sin
which no pagan can parallel, nay, which the
devil himself cannot be guilty of, and perhàps
would not, if he might be so happy as to be
but once more tried. What is the reason men do
so little.regard that word of God, which is able to
4nake them wise unto salvation, as either not to hear
it at all, or with so little affection, as if it were no
. more than a good fashionable piece of religious
invention? What is the reason we can prevail
no more with men, by all our pressed exhorta-
tions, admonitions, public and private, to for-
sake their sins, by a sincere repentance, and
thorough reformation, to make good that solemn
vow which they made in baptism, to be christians
indeed, and not to deceive their own souls with
a mistaken notion of a mere fruitless, ineffectual
549 | APPENDIX.
pretence or presumption of faith? What is the
reason men are so inexorable to the practice of
an holy life, without which (we tell them from
Scripture, and they do not, cannot deny it,) it is
as impossible for them to be saved, as i£ is for
God to lie? Heb. xii, 14. Js not this the com-
mon reason of all this damnable obstinacy, and
worse than diabolical wretchedness: Namely,
because men will not believe or consider’ that
their time to die draws nigh. As much as
Atheism is now increased in thia nation, by the
Antiperistasts of a pretended reformation, I am
yet confident the absolute infidels are much the
fewest m number. Most men do yet retain an
opinion at least of the verity of the Scriptures,
end of the common doctrines of a judgment to
come, after this life, of the happiness of heaven,
and of the contrary miseries of hell: and there-
Íore are presumable to intend some better care
of their own souls, than they seem yet to have.
But a pernicious presumption of the duration of
lige is that which invincibly hardens them against
all exhortations to & present repentance. Such
is the lamentable dotage, stupid, and stupendous
irrationality of. men in this point, as no tongue
can express.
I will yet close with a few words of exhor-
tation: though I have already expressed my little
experience, or hopes of success therein. Since
APPENDIX. 543
Israel (the best men) must dié, let us make
much of them whilst they live, and labour to
‘get as much of tlieir blessings as we can before
they be gone.
And since we all must find a time to die, Oh!
let us be careful to find a time to live: and let
us not make our lives short, by not living till we
be ready to die. Seeing we know our time to
die i$ nigh, let us not be 80 mad as to put it far
off. "Take heed of setting death at a far distance,
lest we be fatally deceived, as. millions have beea
to their eternal perditio . Oh! let the time past
of our lives suffice us to have wrought the will
of the flesh, and let ws no longer live the rest
of our time after the lust. of men, but after the
will of God. Ob! let us be so wise as to redeem
the time, seeing our days have been so many and
evil, and are now s0 few.
. What a desperate wretched thing it i3 to put
off the time of repentance still, when our time to
die is so near! To trust upon to-morrow, when
‘we cannot call this whole day our own without
& revelation. To leave the great work to do
till night, when our Saviour hath told us, xo man
can work.
Never man repented him of repenting too soon ;
but every true penitent,.as well as 5t. Augustine,
will heartily bewail, and confess with shame his
644 APPENDIX.
deferring of it too long, though it hath been but
for a few years in his youth.
It may. be in some sense true, which some
divines will scarce acknowledge, that it can
never be too late to repent: but it is much more
evident, and more safe to consider, that it can
never be too soon. It is a very great folly (and
fault too) in them that have estates to defer the
making of their wills, till the time to die draws
so nigh, that either they can make none, or no
other than such as may be questioned whether
it was their’s or no: so hath many a man undone
the greatest part of his posterity, by leaving them
under a violent temptation of. hazarding their
souls to provide for their bodies. But infinitely
more desperate is their adventure, that defer the
disposing of their souls till the same straits of
time: hereby many a forlorn soul have been
utterly prevented of any possibility of repentance,
by the sudden loss either of life. or understand-
ing; and many more infinitely hazarded by being
able at last to act that one thing necessary, . after
no better fashion than such as is extremely
doubtful, whether it be to any purpose. Yet
is this the epidemical madness of men, to be as
unwiling to dispose of their souls, as.of their
estates, till they see or fear they can keep neither
any longer: and then in their wills (but scarce
APPENDIX. 545
with them) they make a formal bequest of both
together. And if God had no more right to the
one, than men have to the other, this practice
were tolerable: but considering God’s interest
in the soul, which ought ever to have been
devoted to his service, for men to give it or sell
it to the world, or the devil all their life-time;
and then at last (in an hypocritical imitation of
our blessed Lord, and his first martyr’s last
words, to bequeath it to God, is no other than
a wicked sacrilege, under such a possibility only
of pardon, as remains for the sin unto death, that
St. John speaks of. |
Two or three serious, and sad considerations
I have to propound by way of query to him that
defers his repentance till his time to die draws
nigh :—1. Whether it be not a direct mocking of
God, and of à man's own reason, to resolve to
continue in a course of sin, with a purpose to
repent of it at last? Would not we think
ourselves impudently mocked by him that should
tell us, he would first do us an injury, or an
affront, and afterward repent him of it and cry
us mercy? And is not this the plain. sense of
every wicked heart, that pretends to any resolu-
tion of a future repentance? Besides, what can
be more grossly absurd in reason, than for a man
to resolve at the present upon the doing of that
Nn
546 APPENDIX.
which he knows he must, and therefore resolves
he will afterward repent of?
2. If true repentance in Scripture sense sig-
nifies an amendment or reformation of life, as
certainly it doth, what difference is there between
resolving never to repent at all, and resolving not
to do it till his life is at an end? :
3. Whether he that puts off his repentance till
his death bed, doth not.run the evident hazard of
at least an hundred to one never to repent at all?
Upon this common and notorious experiment,
that not one of an hundred of the sick-bed
penitents do prove true penitents, if ever they
recover out of their sickness. : But.as I desire
upon these (I think) very weighty considerations,
that every soul should hasten his repentance:
so will I the end of my present admonition to it:
let us therefore labour so to live, as the nearer
our time is to die, the better it may be for us.
A good man never dies too soon: for others he
may, but not for himself. Immature death is
but improperly applied to a virtuous life:. if we
get to heaven when we die, we shall never
complain of the shortness of the time of our exile
from thence; nay, sure we shall rejoice it was
no longer. But if we should be so woefully
unhappy as to miss of heaven, we shall have
much reason to lament that our life here was so
APPENDIX. 547
long: for though the reprobate’s punishment
cannot be prolonged, because it is eternal, yet
it will be much augmented by the many days of
his ill-spent life.
Let us be studious to provide with Israel for
our transportation into Canaan when we are
dead: and to this end, let us. wrestle stoutly with
our spiritual adversaries, to avoid the curseof sin -
and death ; and wrestle with God, as he did, for
the blessing of the grace of life, and that in time:
so doing we shall be sure to be Zsraeis to prevail
with God, who is ever more than willing to yield
us the victory, if he could see us strive for it.
We read of many ingenious devices the hea-
thens had to put them in mind of death, as their
feasts, and other opportunities of greatest joy;
but all was for.an heathenish end: namely, to
excite them to: seize greedily upon the present,
and not to lose anything of the present enjoy-
ments of this life, than which they knew no better.
St. Paul hath given us their.true meanings, in
those evil words, as he calls them, corrupting
good manners; let us eat and drink, for to-morrow
we shall die. 1 Cor. xv, 32: We cannot here
want expedients to-mind us of death, to a better
purpose; since if we go abroad, in every street
we meet with a church-yard full of graves, and
within doors we cannot sit or lie many hours
without hearing soul-bells, as we call them.
N n2
548 APPEN DIX.
We generally dread the thought of dying
extempore, as one of the greatest infelicities that
can befall us: Oh! let us seek to prevent it, by
preparing daily for that hour, upon a just and
prudent consideration that it draws nigh. | can-
not say that we are precisely bound (according
to the ordinary advice, as well of heathens as
divines, to account every day our last, or in all
things so to spend it, as we would think it
necessary or fit to do, if we knew, or did posi
' tively believe it were so. Al] purposes, promises,
and provisions for to-morrow were then unlawful,
because unreasonable; and by this rule, no man
should take a journey further than the house of
God: but the meaning is, we should so spend
every day, as considering it may be the. last;
and therefore be sure so to act, as if it should
prove so, we might neither be afraid nor ashamed
to be found so doing.
I know not whether I be strictly bound to
all those thoughts, and that mind, whilst I am
writing this sermon, wltich Seneca saith he had,
whilst he was writing one of his epistles; Hoc
animo tibi hanc Epistolam scribo tanquam cum
maximé scribentem mors evocatura sit: * namely,
that death should call me away whilst I am
* Sen. Ep. 62.
APPENDIX. 049
writing. But so I write, as if I were now writing
my last will, in a perfect state of health; that is
(though not without hopes of time and opportunity,
to express myself better in some other copies
hereafter, yet) with present seriousness, and
sincerity of intention and desire, so to bequeath
my talent, as God may be glorified, and my
reader edified; remembering that my own time
to dié draws nigh, and desiring he may do so too,
Oh! that men were wise, that they would under-
stand this, that they would consider their latter end !
The Lord teach me and thee £o number our days,
and to apply our hearts unto wisdom. Amen.
I have now done with my text: but, as I told
you, I have another to take in hand, and ye all
know it. But something I must tell you, which
perhaps you know not, by way of preface to what |
is to be spoken concerning that reverend person
whose memory we are now to solemnize; namely,
that it was a strict charge of his own, given to
his son, whom he made his executor, and inserted
into his last will that he should be buried
privately, without any solemnity: which order
was agreeable to his known singular modesty and
humility. And lest we should seem to transgress
that command which we have thus made public,
I must also tell you, that upon entreaty, his con- .
550 APPENDIX.
sent was obtained for a. sermon to be preached
for him after his funeral.
. Having then obeyed his first order in | the day
of his funeral, which was as private as could. be,
we think we are nevertheless obliged, justa. facere,
to do him some right in the interest of his name:
and I heartily wish there had been one appointed
that had been better able to do it. But seeing
the task is fallen upon me, who must acknow-
ledge my extreme insufficiency for such an office,
I think I may, without ambition, take up for a
wish the petition that Elisha made to his master
Elijah, when he was to be taken away from him;
namely, that a double portion of the Spirit of my
Lord might be upon me: that is, not that I might
have double his gifts, that were too ambitious a
. wish ; but as I think the prophet meant, and as
the same phrase is elsewhere used, that two parts
. -of his spirit, the portion of a first-born son, might
be upon me. .The Hebrew word for portion in
that text signifies properly a mouth, * And to
be able to give this holy man his due, no mouth
or tongue were,so much to be wished as his
own.* The world . well knows he had a double
portion of the gifts of the tongue above his
brethren: and it is as well known he made a
* Moy njuv tort ths exews Qavns exeivoy eIxopgaaduow. Naz,
de Basil.
APPENDIX. 551
proportionable improvement thereof, for the ser-
vice of the Lord and his Church.
Two years together he was chosen rhetorick
professor in the University of Cambridge, and per-
formed the office with extraordinary applause.
He was noted for a singular wit from his youth;
a most acute rhetorician, and an elegant poet.
He understood many tongues; and in the rheto-
ric of his own, he was second to none that lived
in his time. But,
_ That which I shall further say of this holy man,
shall be with reflection upon my text, in a short
parallel of him with the patriarch Israel, of
whom you have heard. And many things there
are wherein. they may be specially compared :.
First, the significations of the name Israel,
which I mentioned, are notably agreeable to this
eminent person. Israel, I told you, signifies
either a man seeing God, or a right (upright)
man of God, or one that had power with God
like a Prince. Each of these things were emi-
nently agreeable to this person: first, Israel was
a.priest, and so was every Pater-familias in those
times, as is said. We read of his offering sacri-
fice several times: and a prophet he was too,
one of those which the Psalmist speaks of in
that known place, (Ps. cv, 15.) T'ouch not mine
anointed, do my prophets no harm. You may
find him named there in the context: (ver. 10.)
099 APPENDIX.
And here in the next chapter but one, you may
read his prophetical blessings that he gave to his
sons, when the time drew nigh that he was to
die. So was our father a priest, and that of the
higher order; a seer, a prophet, and a father of
the prophets. One that always made it his
business to see and search into the things of
God, with a zealous diligence, rather than a bold
curiosity. He was one that conversed as much
with God, and drew as nigh to him in divine
meditation, which is the only ordinary way of
seeing God in the flesh, as any man of his time.
You all know lie was a master in Israel, and
another manner of one than Nicodemus. OpSo%fias
malng- xeu, Avdacxax@-, aS Gregory. said of his father;
a father and a master of the orthodox faith A
great master he was, and one of the first ‘that
taught this church the art of divine: meditation:
Few men of his age have ascended so high upon -
Jacob’s ladder as he did: he was one that with
Israel lived and died in a Gosken of light in the
midst of Zgypiian darkness.
Secondly, he was a right upright màn too
before God, a true Israelite. indeed, $n whom was
no guile; ww, Rectus Dei, zn vs, as was said
of Israel, Vir «antiqua probitate s$mplicitateq ;
preditus, Et eruditis pietate, et pits eraditionis
laude antecellens, ita secundas doctrine ferens, «i
pielatis primas obtineret, as Naztangen ‘saith of
APPENDIK. $53
Basil. ‘Those that were most eminent for learn-
ing, he excelled in piety; and those that were
most famous for piety, he excelled in learning.
This high priest's breast was richly adorned with
the glorious Urim, and with the more precious
jewel of the Z'Àummim.
Thirdly, he was one that wrestled with God
much, and often in prayer, and prevailed much: -
and if we ‘be yet capable of the blessing, I hope
we shall one day enjoy the fruit of those prayers
wherein he wrestled with God -for this poor
. church. We read of Jacob’s vows as well as of
his visions, (Gen. xxviii, 20.) and it is the first
vow that we read of in Scripture: and who
hath not read, or heard at least, of this holy
man's vows?
Thus ‘the name agrees punctually in each sig-
nification. |
We'will now go on with the parallel of the
persons. ‘Israel:was a smooth maniof body, .as
— himself ‘saith, (Gen. xxxii, 11.) and a man of
a plain, even, and modest spirit, as appeared .by
his scruples that he made about the way that his
mother directed him to get his father's blessing.
Sach.an one was our father, a man of a smooth;
terse wit, and tongue, :and of .a calm, gentle,
meek, and moderate spirit, as they all know that
know ‘anything of him: erga€-, aopyif-, yaanvos,: ro
ios, Sepuos To vua, as Nazianzen saith of Caesarius;
054 APPENDIX.
a man of a mild, serene, and calm aspect, (who
ever saw it ruffled into any appearance of dis.
orderly passion?) and of a quick and lively spirit.
He was not twice a child, though he lived long
enough to have been so,) but always one in our
Saviours sense, namely, in humility and inno-
cence: one that much excelled in those dove-
like fruits of the Spirit, which St. Paul mentions,
(Gal. v, 22.) love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gen-
tleness, goodness, meekness, &c. As loving, and
as much beloved, as any man of his order in the
three nations. One that got the birthright from
heaven, and the blessing from men too, without
dissembling for it; whilst other rough Esaus were
hunting abroad for wild venison, thinking to
please their father, he stayed quietly at home,
and observing the directions of his mother the
Church, went away smooth with the venison.
Some strugglings he had with his, rougher
brethren, whom he did not.strive. so much to
supplant, as to supple with his smooth moderation
and humility: and so far he prevailed in this
‘design, as that instead of ill words or knocks,
he met with a kiss and respectful embracement
from many of them that had ‘been his adversaries,
because they envied him the birthright of his
order and dignity; .and all men honoured the
Doctor, though some loved not the Bishop. !
APPENDIX. |. 655
Israel travelled into several countries, and was
kindly entertained and respected wherever he
came; so did, and so was dur. father. - He
travelled with persons of honour into France,
Germany, Holland, and Scotland ; and God was
ever with him, wherever he went, as he was with
Israel. Some troubles and perils he met.with in
his journeys, as Jacob did, when Laban pursued
him with one.troop, and Esau met him with
another. Buta kind Providence was ever ready
to. redeem him ;. and God hath always holpen hes
servant Israel. . ^ | Er
. .Israel was a shepherd, and a faithful one, that
took special care of his flock, (Gen. xxxi, 40.)
and great pains night and day in watching: over
them for twenty years together: and our. Israel
was a faithful shepherd, . that diligently watched
over the flocks that his master committed to. his
, eharge, and took extraordinary pains in feeding
them for above twenty years together. Whilst
he. was the private pastor first of Halstead in
Suffolk, and after. of Waltham in Essex, he
preached.thrice à week in a constant course: yet,
as himself witnessed, “ never durst climb. up into
the pulpit £o. preach any sermon, whereof he.had
not before penned every word in the same order
wherein he hoped to deliver it; although in his
expressstons he was no slave to syllables, neither
made use of his notes.” |
056 APPENDIX.
Nor did his industry either cease, or so much
as abate at his preferments. He hath given the
world as good an account of his time as any man
in it; as one that knew the value of time, and
esteemed the loss of it more than a temporal loss,
because it hath a necessary influence upon eter-
nity. Itis well known in this city how forward
he was to preach in any of our churches, till he
was first forbidden by men, and at last disabled
by.God.
And when he could not preach himself as oft
and as long as he was able, this learned-Gamaliel
was not content only, but very diligent to sit at
the feet of.the youngest of his disciples; as dili-
gent an-hearer as he had.been a preacher. How
oft have we seen him walking alone, like old
Jacob, with his staff, to Bethel, the house of
God ? |
^ Israel was fruitful in children, and so was.our
father, and that without the polygamy of .Israel ;
being the husband but of one wife,.a grave, virtu-
"ous matron, with whom he lived forty-nine years.
But Israel at last wanted bread for himself and
his family: I cannot say this man did so, bat
how near he came to it, and. by what means we
all-know; but must not complain because he
never did. He had not the kindness that Israel
had in Egypt, to have any allowance for his
maintenance from the lord of the country, yet. he
APPENDIX. 9007
never wanted. He was indeed a rare nurror of
patience under all his crosses, which toward his
latter end were multiplied upom him. The losa
of his estate he seemed insensible of, as if he had
parted with all with as good content as Jacob
did with a good part of his to pacify his angry
brother, having well learned as well to want as
to abound. I have heard him oft bewail the
spoils of the church, but very rarely did he so
much as mention his own losses, but took joyfully
the spoiling of his goods. When he was laid
among the pots, that is, saith the Septuagint. and
the vulgar latin, inter cleros, yet was he as the
wings of a dove covered with silver, and her
feathers with yellow gold. Ps. xviii, 13.
Of late years, and especially the last, he was
sorely afflicted with bodily diseases, and bore
them all with as much patience, as hath been
seen in any flesh, except that of our Saviour's.
We have heard of the patience of Job, but never
saw a fairer copy of it, than was in this man.
Israel lived to be very old, as you may read
in the verse before my text, and at last grew so
weak, that he was scarce able to rise up upon
his bed to bless his children; (Gen. xlviii, 2.) so
was it with our father. Methinks 1 see him yet,
as he was upon his bed, how he strengthened
himself to confirm others that sought at, with his
fatherly blessing, as Israel did the sons of Joseph ;
558 APPENDIX.
and that too with the same good old ceremony
which Jacob first used, namely, the laying on of
his hands.’ Hts days were few and evil, in Jacob’s
comparative sense; and yet many and good, for
he died in a good old age, full of days, and full
of good. works: canus virtutibus, white with vir-
tues. He came to his grave in a full age, like as
a shock of corn cometh in his season. Job v, 26.
He was crowned with the silver crown of age in
his grey hairs, (Prov. xvi, 31:) and now is crowned
with the golden crown of immortality. | |
When his time drew nigh that he must die, he
much longed for death, and was ready to bid it
welcome, and spake always very: kindly of it.
It was an odd word of St.Francis when the
physicians told him the time of death drew nigh,
Bene veniat, inquit, soror Mors, welcome, my sister
death. ‘The expression of Job is not much unlike,
(Job xvii, 14.) I have said to: corruption, thou art
my father; ‘to the worm, thou.art my mother and
. my sister: so did this good man welcome death;
as if he had been to embrace a mother or a sister.
He took good notice of the approach of death,
and set his house in order as Israel did, by dis-
tributing the blessings that God had left him to
his children. He endeavoured also to prepare
others for that change by his last books, and last
sermons that he preached, which were all upon :
APPENDIX. 809
the last things, Death and Judgment, Heaven
and Hell. | |
Israel left his children in Egypt when he died,
but with a prophetical promise of their return
into Canaan: our Israel hath left us, I may not _
say in bondage, but in a sad condition, and: left
us without a prophecy, though not without his -
prayers for our happy return into Canaan. Well,
he is. gone: Non nobis ereptus sed periculis, as
Ambrose said of his brother (in that most elegant
oration which he made, De obitu fratris,) taken
away not so. much from us, as from the perils of
the times. It was some comfort to him that he
lived not to see the funeral of the church, though
he saw it drawing home, almost at last gasp.
And if there could be as much sorrow in heaven
for the perverseness of sinners, as there is joy at
their conversion,. doubtless this holy man could
not yet be at rest. .But Abraham ts ignorant of
us, and Israel knows us not.: Isa. 1xiij, 16. And
the more happy 1 is he if he doth not, and I hope
we are never the more unhappy, for whether he
knows of’ our state or not, it is piously to be
believed, he prays for us, ws oue, as Nazianzen
said of Basil.
When Israel died, the Egyptians mourned for
him : (Gen. I, 3.) and I am persuaded so do some
of the worst of men for our father.
560 | APPENDIX.
The streights of time both for preparing and
delivering this testimony of his life, hath enforced
me to pass over the particulars of his preferments,
dignities, and honourable employments by his
prince; amongst which, that to the Synod of
Dort would not else have been forgotten;
especially for the great respect he had there from
the foreign divines and states. And his excellent
moderation shewed in those unhappy disputes,
concerning which he afterward drew up such a
collection of accorded truths, as was offered to
be subscribed by some of the most eminent
parties on both sides: which reconciliatory papers
. then unhappily buried, are very much to be desired,
and may be hoped for in time, together with a
completer account of his life written by himself.
But whatever becomes of them, he was one
whose moderation was known to all men; and his.
zeal for an holy peace in the church, is abundantly
manifested by those writings of his, which are
already extant. |
I cannot so much as mention all his virtues,
but must not forget so great an one as that of his
charity: which above and before all things, as the
two great Apostles exhort,* he was careful to put
on: besides his spiritual alms of prayers, godly
* Em sao, Col.iii,14. sop vowlen, 1 Pet. iv, 8.
"^ APPENDIX. 961
admonitions, comforts, and holy counsels, whereof
he was very liberal.
His bodily alms were constant and bountiful.
In the parish where he last lived, he gave a .
weekly voluntary contribution of money to certain
poor widows to his dying day, over and above
his imposed rates, wherein he was never spared.
And as the Widow's handful of meal, and her
cruise of oil did not waste by feeding the old
prophet; so did this prophets barrel that was
low, and his cruise that was little, not hold out
only, but seemed to increase by feeding the
widows, as appeared by that liberal addition of
alms which he gave by his will to the town where
he was born, and to this city where he died.
If ever there were a man that could speak with
the tongues of men and angels, he was one. But
such there are who are, as Justin Martyr calls
them, OU MEV QuAoTOQOI, aAAa Piropoga, OT, aS the apostle
saith, no better than a sounding brass, or a tink-
king cymbal, being without charity. But our
father was one that had learned of St. Paul that
‘game xa varsgCoam oXw, (1 Cor. xii, 31.) | the more
excellent way of charity, which he also shewed
unto others. He was one, that, as St. John
exhorts, loved not in word, or in tongue only, but
wn deed and in truth, (1 John iii, 18.) and shewed
it plentifully upon all occasions. One that had
Oo
962 APPENDIX.
Jacob's voice, but could never endure so much
as the disguise of Esau's churlish hands.
. Four things are yet remaining with us below,
of this heavenly saint: his children, his works,
his body, and his name. First, his children. I
may say of him, as St. Ambrose said of Theodo-
sius the Emperor, Non totus recessit, reliquit nobis
liberos in quibus eum debemus agnoscere, et in
quibus eum cernimus et tenemus, he is not all gone,
he hath left us a good portion of himself behind
in his sons, in whom we may yet see him, and
. hold him. I shall not wish any one of them the
double portion of their father's spirit, but rather
that they may be, as indeed they are, all co-heirs
thereof.
For his works, I hope with reverence I may
lawfully say of them, as the Psalmist doth of
God's, that they all praise him, because all men
praise them. At least I may say, as the Spirit
doth in the Apocalypse, Blessed is the dead that
died in the Lord, for he resteth from his labours,
- and his works follow him. Blessed is he, because
his works, that is, the reward of them, follow him;
and we are blessed because they are left behind
.him. That which Nazianzen said of Basil's
works, may truly be said of this man's, ea xa
Th "TXptpya TS avdpos TOY "TOVSJAEVOY ETEDOIG Tory TimMoTEpa NC!
TepiPaves toa. |
His by-businesses, his occasional meditations,
APPENDIX. . 663
are more precious than the: elaborate works of
other men.
For his body, that is already laid up in his
dormitory, without the honourable ceremony of
embalming, which Israel had. Gen. 1,2. But
though he wanted that, and other ceremonies of
deserved honour, which his own humility and
the envy of the times denied him, yet doth he
not want that which the wise man saith zs better
than a precious oil or ointment, (Eccles. vii, 1.)
namely, a good name. For I may say of this
man's name, as the spouse speaks of the name of
her beloved, that it is ax ointment poured forth.
Cant.i, 3. An ointment that carrieth with it all
the excellencies of a precious oil; that is, besides
the rich ingredients wherewith it is substantially
compounded; these three accidental qualities
too, of a fragrant and far-spreading odor or scent,
the gentle and pleasing /evor or smoothness,
the bright shining nitor or lustre.
. My task at this time hath been to break a
small box of ointment to pour upon his feet; and
. I hope there is no body will accuse me of any
waste, either of my time or my oil ; . especially
considering both were little. If there should be
any murmurers, I hope. to find them that will
excuse me with this apology, saying, J have done
a good work upon him, I have done what I could,
and. done it for his burial. Mark xiv, 8; Matt.
002
564 APPENDIX.
xxvi, 10, 12. And sure we do all well to help to
embalm his name, especially since we may do it
at his own cost, for he hath provided the spices
in his life. When he lived, his lips dropped
myrrh, and his pen the od of calamus end cinua-
mon; the smell whereof hath filled the house of
God with such perfume, as I hope this age, as
ill-scented as it is, will never wear out.
His life was so well acted, as, had not his
modesty forbidden it, he might have taken his
leave of the world, as Augustus did, with Valete
et plaudite, farewell, and speak well of me.
He is now silent, and so must I ‘be, for the
time will not allow me to protract my speech.
An angel from heaven hath translated the soul of
this angel of the church, end placed 1t among the
twenty-four ‘elders, which ‘St. Jolm saw about the
throne of God, (Rev. iv, 4.) which good inter
preters have taken to be a type of the twenty-
four chief priests under the law, and of their
analogical successors, the bishops of the chnsfian
church, attired with a whete robe'ot:glory, inBtesd
of ‘his earthly rocket; and instead of ‘his crosity, .
he hath a branch of the ‘peaceful and victorious
palm put into his hands ; and for his 'uxitre, which
fell with the royal crown, (when the time was
come that his old master's prophecy was to be
fulfilled, No Biskop, no Kang, ):he hath'a'crown
of glory set upon bis.head. A Pisgah sight he
ARPENDIK. 565
often had of this heavenly Canaan, when he
was upon his mount of contemplation; but now
he is gotten up to the top of the ladder, and
seeth the face of God indeed in the true Peniel.
Methinks now I hear same of you say with
Balaam, O that I might die the death of the
righteous, and that my latter end might be like his!
I shall tell you, in a few words, how that may,
and I have dane.
Follow the steps of hig holy life, and the
instructigns of his godly hooks; learn of Israel
and of this parallel father, to prize the spiritual
birthright, aboye any present fleshly enjoyments,
and to wrestle with God for it ia prayer: medi-
tate much and often of heaven and heavenly
things, as he did; imitate him in his holy vows,
and be careful to pay them: follow, J say, the
ateps of his faith and charity, and you cannot
miss of such an end: For as many as walk
according to this rule, peace shal] be upon them,
and upon the Israel of God. AMEN.
566 APPENDIX.
EPITAPH
' ON THE MONUMENT OF MR. HENRY BRIGHT, IN
WORCESTER CATHEDRAL,
Composed by Doctor Jos. HArr,then Dean of Worcester. *
Mane, Hospes, & lege.
Magister HENRICUS BRIGHT,
celeberrimus Gymnasiarcha,
qui Schole Regie istic fundate
per totos Qudraginta Annos summá cum ~
laude praefuit :
Quo non alter magis sedulus fuit scitusve aut dex
) in Latinis, Grecis, Hebraicis, '
Literis feliciter edocendis:
Teste utráque Academia, quam instruxit affatim numerosá
pube literariá :
Sed et totidem annis eoque amplius "Theologiam
professus,
et hujus Ecclesie per septemnium Canonicus major,
Sepissime hic & alibi sacrum Dei Preconem magno cum
I zelo & fructu egit:
Vir pius, doctus, integer, frugi, de Republicá
deque Ecclesia optimé meritus,
à laboribus perdiu
pernoctuque ab anno 1562 ad 1626, |
sfrenué usque extant latis, 4to Martii suaviter requievit
in Domino.
* See Fuller's Worthies of England in Worcestershire.
ANGELUS E COELO AD ANGELUM ECCLESIZ N. AD
CCELUM TRANSEUNTEM.
AVE Pater Sancte, Proso-metrica.
Gratis dilecte, gratia jam plene,
Dominus tecum, táq; cum Domino,
Semper fuit, semper es futurus.
Benedictus tu inter viros, inter angelos.
En age, ociüs hanc nostram ascendas alam,
Simálq; ascendamus hanc scalam seavoxxpaxa :
Quin et properare jussit expectans Dominus,
Idémq; cupiunt conservi omnes,
Gestientes videre, aventes exosculari.
Uterq; te manet gratulabundus Adamus
Et qui perdidit, et qui servavit.
Jamjam aperuit sinum,
Fidus Fidorum Pater Abraham :
Brachiisq; extensis adstat Parallelus Israel,
Cum charissimo filio cognomine Josepho.
Fratrésq; omnes in amplexum ruituri.
in Ascensu.,
Quid moraris, quid miraris
Lumina hzc pervia ?
Quid Lunam argenteam noctis reginam ?
Quid aureum solem diei regem?
In sidera errantia quid errant oculi?
In fixa quid figis Lumina?
Quorsum (post solem) duodena signa pervagaris
Non est hoc veri nominis, nec numinis Ceelum
Non hzc aula Jovis ’Agiropeyiss :
Sed ejusdem camerata cella.
568 APPENDIX.
Nec sunt hec lumina veré coelestia
Sed umbra luminum super-ccelestium.
Attolle oculos, aspice justitia solem,
Suo jam culminantem
Fixo seternoq. meridie.
Hujasq; radiis glorià plenam,
Formosam lunam veré lucinam,
Scilicet que peperit lucem parentém.
Ecce Patriarcharum bis sena signa
Totidemq; Apostolorum antitypum Senatum.
Ecce Saturnum grandevum Adamum :
Jovemq ; legiferum Mosen : )
Martem, bellicosum Josuam :
Eliam, Mercurium; post toclica peractá jussa
Ad coeluni impigré revolatitem.
Ecce Hesperum solis prectirsorem
Johannem Baptistam.
Ecce Pleiades Empyreos,
Septem Fratres, stellas Asiaticas :
Ecce agmina minorum syderum,
Variantis magnitudinis,
Omnia tibi lucem prebent Venturo.
Adjunge latus debito choro,
Auge destinatam constellátionétti,
Sed primum, coeli amicus, induas amictum coelestem.
Hanc scilicet glorie albam,
Pro terreá direptá palla;
Illam victricem palmam,
Pro extorto pastorali pedo:
Istam coronam sideream,
Pro tenui decussa cydari.
Vide Arborem vite de quá toties legisti,
Hujus nunc fructum legas,
Et zternum vivas.
J.W. M.A e
UPON THE MUCH-LAMENTED DEATH OF THE
REV. FATHER JOSEPH, LATE LORD
BISHOP OF NORWICH.
OvR Father dead? can any dumb-born son
Forbear to cry, Die, and we are undone?
Ah! could our cries his flying ghost recall,
"T had soon returned to its wonted stall :
But since
Froni hence
It must ; blow high our deep-fetch'd sighs, and land
This high-priz'd treasure on the heav'nly strand.
"That's all we can, for without his own skill
Of tongue and fancy, can't the briskest quill
His worth
Bet forth,
Yet cry we must, and though in uncouth tones,
And dreary accents of confused groans,
Tell the mis-deeming world—
What rich embroidery of wit and grace,
Like sparkling diamonds set in golden case,
Like the pure white and red, in beauty's cheek, |
With sweet contention that precedence seek,
Possest
That breast.
How sweet a dresse of smiling gravity
Sate on that reverend brow; how solidly
Fraughted with Gospel treasure at its home,
That soul's arriv'd like ship from Indies come.
See in that mind a land-skip of all graces
Pourtray’d to life, rank'd in their proper places.
570 APPENDIX.
Here love and peace imbrace, there meekness, sanctity :
Below at distance sits humility ;
See yonder charity, with arms expanded,
With tender bowels open-handed ;
There patience stoops, and bends her shoulders low
To bear that load the unworthy world will throw
On wronged innocence. Then tap’ring to the sky
You'l see pure zeal, devotion, piety.
All these unfucus'd, candid, and serene ;
Not like the modern garb, to serve the scene
Of ends and interests ; mere pageantry,
To gull such souls as see with half an eye.
Such stales of vertue’s, but a saint-like cheat,
Glasse to his ehrystal, glowworms to his heat.
Was ever soul ravish'd in meditation,
Wound up on high in contemplation
Divine,
Like thine?
Such know the beating of thy pulse whose traffick
Was wholly so cherubick and seraphick,
That it evince, 'tis not heretical
To say, angels may be corporeal.
His holy life, a silent check to all
The rout of vices, was: his pen the maul
Of sects
And smects.
His name did more perfume the church, than gum
Of Stacte, Onycha, and Galbanum
Did Moses’ sacred tent ; and certainly
Whilst Hall's remembered, Bishop cannot die.
And that will be, till books shall be calcin’d,
With the elements above ; and all refin'd,
At the last conflagration——
Learned Armagh * to honour this his day,
His Usher was, and heaven-ward led the way.
When aged Durham + shall remove his station,
How great, how glorious a Constellation
* Abp. Usher. t Bp. Morton.
APPENDIX. 571
In th’ orb empyreal will they make, those three
That will outshine the radiant Cassiopee.
But stay: these blundering lines do wrong the blest,
Let Yare and Isca murmur out the rest:
Only our dropping tears shall never stint,
Till on his marble they these words imprint :
Maugre the peevish world’s complaint,
Here lies a Bishop and a saint.
Whom Ashby * bred, and Granta nurs'd
Whom Halsted, and old Waltham first
To rouz the stupid world from sloth,
Heard thund'ring with a golden mouth,
Whom Wor'ster next did dignifie,
And honoured with her Deanry :
Whom Exon lent a mitred wreath, |
And Norwieh, where he ceas'd to breath.
These all with one joint voice do cry,
Death's vain attempt, what doth it mean?
My Son, my Pupil, Pastor, Dean,
My rev'rend Father, cannot die.
Deflevit H. N. 3.0.
hs de-la-zouch.
IN OBITUM AMPLISSIMI PATRIS J. H. EPISCOPI
NORVICENSIS,
IAMBI RECTI,
INDULTE oosli tam benigno munere,
Quantis tuorum luctibus refers pedem,
Facunde Presul! quo domante multiceps
Pecu, profanas ordini intentans sacro
Laté ruings, coneidit; quo vindice,
Censfis secundi Flamen anctus inful4
Nondum superbit ; siquibus distinguere
Humana brutis arma jam cordi fiet ;
Mentisq; doctz si tropea viribus
Nequam protervis preferant. Olim tuos
Sensit lacertos factio Brownistica:
Antistes ille septicolli culmine,
Superbus olim sensit, Ut tantim cluat
Sagata virtus, neutiquam toga minor
Incedis, hinc te duplicis serti decus,
Oliva, laurus, gloriá pari beat.
Tricisque preepedita conscientia
Quàm dexter adsis perpetim fatebitur,
Quàm luculentá nubilam ducas fide,
Cujusq; scripti que venusta lumina!
Qualésque nervi! cuncta quàm normaliter
Concinna, queis sunt attributa partibus!
Piáq; suavitate quem non detinent!
Sed que Camena, dulcibus fastigiis
Dignanda coeli, pergat exiles domos
Rectoris alti, spiritus et accolas
Referre tecum? quando pené libera
Mens jam senilis corticem perrumpere,
APPENDIX. 573
Coepit cataste, et limpido vesci there,
O quanta pomis indidem mysteria!
At vita qualis sanctitatis! quam pii
Foecunda amoris! quámq; nullis seculi
Exulcerata cladibus, quas ordine ‘
Longo furetites, miles mfractus pati!
Leetisque possis impiger cervicibus.
Partes in omnes qui volet te prosequi
Laudum canenti quanta cresceret seges!
Sed nos Galenus.
Instantibus amicis extempore profudit,
J.W. M.D.C.L.
TO MASTER JOSUAH SYLVESTER, OF HIS BARTAS
METAPHRASED.
I DARE confess, of muses more than nine,
Nor list, nor can I envy none but thine.
She, drencht alone in Sion's sacred spring ^
Her Maker's praise hath sweetly chose to sing,
And reacheth nearest th' angel's notes above;
Nor lists to sing or tales or wars or love.
One while I find her, in her nimble flight,
Cutting the brazen spheres of heaven bright:
Thence, straight she glides, before I be aware
Through the three regions of the liquid air:
Thence rushing downe, through Nature's closet door,
She ransacks all her grandame's secret store;
And diving to the darkness of the deep,
Sees there what wealth the waves in prison keep ;
And, what she sees above, below, between,
She shows and sings to others ears and eyne.
"Tis true, thy muse another's steps doth press
The more's her pain, nor is her praise the less. -
Freedom gives scope unto the roving thought ;
Which, by restraint, is curb'd. Who wonders aught,
'That feet unfettered, walken far, or fast?
Which, pent with chains, mote want their wonted haste.
Thou followest Bartasses diviner streine ;
And singst his numbers in his native vein.
Bartas was some french angel, girt with bayes
And thou, a Bartas art, in English lays.
Whether is more! me seems (the sooth to sayn)
One Bartas speaks in tongues,—in nations twain.
JOS. HALL.
INDEX.
ACT for the propagation of religion in Wales, 362.
Apprentices, of London, their petition against the church, 214, 271, 272.
Army, insisting on toleration, 839 taking the sovereign power into their
own hands, 949. Remonstrance of, ibid. Secure the person of the
king in Hurst castle, 350. Shut ont the presbyterian members from
parliament. determine to impeach the king, ib.
Assembly ef Divines, 309. prohibited by the king, ib. forsaken by the
episcopal divines, 810. manage church matters, 313.
Bagshaw, 167.
: Barebone’s parliament, 866. their intended reformation, 867. described
by Clarendon, ib. dissolve themselves, 369.
Barton, 148, 149, 193.
Bastwich, ib.
Bill, to exclude ecclesiastics from civil employments, 221. Clarendon’s
remarks upon it, ib. His majesty's opinion of it, 223. passed the
commons, ib. opposed and thrown outin the house: of lords, 224.
Bishop Hall's speech on the occasion, 224--230.
Bill, for abolishing deans and chapters, 233. for the extirpation of epis-
copacy, 230. oppesed, 231. read a second time, ib. Clarendon’s
mancenvre respecting it, 232.
—For taking away the bishops’ votes, passed, 282. opposed by the
Bishop of Rochester aud the Earl of Bedford, ib. obtained the royal
assent, 285.
-To continue parliament, 242. to abolish the high commission, and the
star chamber, 243. for the abolition of episcopacy, 308, 309, 329.
Bishops, many of them disposed to remove offensive innovations, 217.
Their cares and anxieties, 121, note. ‘Their protestation, 275--277.
Their plea and demurrer, 247, 270. Their houses threatened to be pulled
down, 274. determine not to quit the parliament, ib. Twelve protest-
ing impeached, 279. entreated to relinquish their right of voting, 282.
Twelve protesting petition for council, 291. ‘Their trial, ib. 292. are
released, 293. when prisoners in the tower, preach every Sunday, 294.
Blundel, Peter, 15.
Book of Sports, 72, republished, 181. Copy of, 131--138. bad effects
of it, 138--142. refused to be read by many of the clergy, 139. the
cause of much trouble to them, 139,140. not mentioned in the Works
of Bishop Hall, 148.
Brown, Robert, some account of, 48, 49.
Brownists, 48, 49, 50.
Burnet, Bishop, quoted, 833.
568 INDEX.
Cambridge, university of, purified by the parliament, 814.
Canons, subscribed, 174. published, 175. Abstract of them, 175--180.
generally disliked, 180, 181. Resolutions of the commons against them,
188, 189. Speech of Bishop Hall in their defence, 248--258. against
papists and socinians, 171.
Catechizing, recommended, 123, 124.
Cathedrals and Churches, devastated, $16.
Commissioners for defacing the ornaments, &c. of churches, 198.
Committee of Accommodation, 234, 235. Foller’s opinion of, 236.
Committees for religion and grievances, 169, 187, 188.
Communion tables, disputes about, 146, 147.
Commons, their reasons against the bishops’ votes, 287--289.
Commonwealth established, 352.
Complaints against the bishops, 196.
Corporation of the sone of the.clergy, 368.
Costns, Dr. the fitst sufferer, 194.
‘Convocation, contigmed after dissolution of parliament, 172. Distuebemce
in consequence, A18.
CmaABLES i, a blemish in hie character, 140, 141.
CHARLES II, crowned in Seotland, 86$.
Chaderton, Dr. 12.
Chomley, Mr. H. 9.
Church ales, what, 129, note.
Church, destruction of, intended, 200, 210, 211, 287, 245, 270, 817.
troubled by controversies, 107. managed by the assembly of divines,
'813.
Clamour against the clergy, 196.
Cullum, Sir John’s, History of Hawsted and Hardwick, 17, note.
Clergy, their sufferings, 814. their number no leas than two thousand,
45. 815. Connived at in the exercise of their ministry, 371,
‘Clarendon, Lord, his observations on the mode of getting up petitions,
"196, 211, 212.
Clerk ales, what, 129, note.
Cromwell, Oliver, near being seized by the presbyterians, 339. saying
-of his, $40. his cruel oppression of the loyal clergy, 380, note. Anec-
dote ef, $82, turning the parliament out of doors, 365. dissolving
another, S74. -
Cross, St. Paul’s, description of, by Dr. Walker; and Cross in Cheapside,
demolisbed, 198.
Denham, Baron, 129, 190.
-Deering, Sir Edward, his speech on the delivery of the bill for-extirpating
-episcopaey, 280, 231.
ifferences, arising between the preabyterians and independents, 821.
Derectory, for public worship, 828..
‘Disorder of church and state, 337. pathetically deplored’ by Bishop
3 e
Disputes, religious, in Holland, 74.
Disturbances, in London and in the country, 170. on presenting petitions,
272.
Divine Service, disturbed by the rabble, 197.
Divisions in religion, evil of, $34, $56, 858.
DRuRY, account of the family of the, 17, note.
DuGcDALE, quoted, 271.
Doddridge, Dr. 5, note, 442.
Dort, Synod of, 74--92.
INDEX. 977
Engagement, appointed, 352, 358. |
English Divines, deputed to the Synod of Dort. receive instructions from
the king, 75, 76. "Their opinions, 90, 92.
Enthusiasts, springing up, 320, 321.
Episcopacy, divine right of, 153--167. Attempt of establishing in Scot-
land, 152, 153. abolished by the Scots’ assembly, ib. abolished in
England, 371.
Erastians, described, 318.
Falkland, Lord, his character by Clarendon, 210.
Featley, Dr. imprisoned for his attachment to episcopacy, 311.
Form of prayer in use in the Jewish and Christian church, 207.
Fox, George, 363.
Fifths, 314, 815.
Fuller, his remarks on Bishop Hall’s Letter respecting the Synod of Dort,
88. his mention of Bishop Hall’s Catechism, 123, note. A mistake of
is, 280. '
Flattery, instance of, 99, 100.
Gangrana, of Edwards, 337, note.
Gilby, Mr. Anthony, 4.
Government of the church interrupted for eighteen years, 809, 317, 820.
Godwin, de Presulibus, 425. |
Goodwin, John, his Redemption Redeemed, 80. his unjust insinuations
respecting the Synod of Dort, refuted, 80, 81, 82.
Greenham, anecdote of, 22, 23.
Great Gransden, 146, note.
Granger, quoted, 149.
Grimstone, Sir Harbottle, moves the impeachment of Laud, 190,
Hacket, Dr. defends the clergy, 232, 233.
HarL, BisHoP, specialities of divine providence in his life, 2. Time
and place of his birth, ib. His parents, ib. 3. placed at school, 6.
enters at Cambridge, 6. elected scholar of Emmanuel college, 10.
elected fellow, 12. appointed professor of rhetoric, 13. His intense
study, ib. 426--430. Anecdote of, by Fuller, ib. note. enters into holy
orders, 14. Appointed to the rectory of Halstead. 16. Opposed by
Lilly, 18. Marries, 20. his children, account of, 20, 21. Anecdote
of his family, 21, 22. Accompanies Sir Edm. Bacon to the Spa, 23.
disputes with Costerus, 25, 26, 33. Writes his second century of
meditations, 28. disputes with a Carmelite prior, ib. returns to
England, 30. his travels, account of, in an epistle, 31--40. declines
the preachership of St. Edm. Bury, 41. preaches at Richmond, 42.
resolves to leave Halstead, 48. presented to the living of Waltham by
Lord Derry, 44. His reluctance to leave Halstead, 44--47. - was
an instrument in influencing Tho. Sutton, to establish the charter
house, ib. Writes against the Brownists, 48. His letter to Smith
and Robinson, 50--55. Declines constant residence at court, 57. His
sermon on the death of Prince Henry, 58. is appointed to a prebend
of Wolverhampton, 60. recovers the patrimony of that collegiat,
church, 61--64. relinquishes his Wolverhampton prebend, ib. Ac
companies Lord Doncaster abroad, ib. is collated to the deanery oc
Worcester, 66. Attends the king to Scotland, 67. Writes to Mr.
Struthers, 68. urges not the reading of the Book of Sports, 72. goes
Pp
578 INDEX.
to the Synod of Dort, 75. His letter to Fuller respecting the Synod"
80,88. returns from the Synod, ib. is presented by the Synod with a
gold medal, 86. preaches before the Synod, 87. quotations from his
sermon, ib. His latin speech before the Synod, 88-90. draws up his
Via Media, 92, 93, 108, 109. asserts the outward visibility of the church
of Rome, 95, 117, 118,121. His sermon before the king, quoted, 98, 99.
preaches in latin at the convocation, 104. "His sermon translated by
his son Robert, 105. preaches at the re-opening of the re-edified
chapel of St. John's, Clerkenwell, ib. His moderation with respect to
the five points, 108. is raised to the See of Exeter, 119. 1s charged
with puritanism, 118, 125, 165.
—Reclaims his factions clergy, 113. is charged with too much indulgence
of lectures, 114, 125, 197.
—is opposed in his nomination of the clerks of the convocation, 115. is
translated to Norwich, ib. His mind pourtrayed, 121. His Cate-
chism, 123, rote. recommends catechiaing, 123. 124. was a diligent
preacher, 127. His great moderation, 128, 148, 184. His Divine
RIGHT oF Episcopacy, 153. revised by Laud, 154. altered con-
trary to his own mind, 161,163. Quotations from, 166,167. was
the most celebrated writer in defence of the church, 165. His speech
in parliament in behalf of the church, 200.-204, His '* Humble
Remonstrance," 205. His controversy with Smectymnuus, 205--209.
His sentiments upon extemporary prayer, 207--209. His speech in
parliament upon the bil! to exclude all ecclesiastics from civil employ-
ments, 224--230. retires to Exeter, preaches in the cathedral, remarks
on his sermon, 258-261. Extract from his sermon, ib. His sermon in
the tower, 294. His letter from the tower, 296. His state of mind
described when a prisener, 296-.303. retires to Norwieh, $04.
preaches in the cathedral, ib. His curious account of the enthusiasts
of his time, 321, 322. His ‘ Modest offer of some considerations to the
Prolocutor of the Assembly of Divines,” 820. His Harp Measure,
$86--409. His persecution in his old age, 409. His patience, 414,
418. driven out of his palace, 415. retires to: Heigham, tb. His house
now a publie house, i). spent the remainder of his days in doing
good, and in devotion, 416, 417. preaches in his 80th year, ib. a
striking passage from his sermon, 7b. His charity, 417, 418. His
weekly fast, ib. foretels the night of his death, ib. His death, i.
dislike of burials in churches, ib. buried in the chancel of Heigham
church, 419. His will, extract from, 418, xote. Inscription on his
tomb-stone, 419. His mural monument described, 420. His character,
425--432. his writings, ib. His mode of spending each day, 426--430.
His Satires, character of, 433--438. His intention of making a metri-
cal version of the Psalms, 438, 489. His prose works, character of, by
Sir H.Wotton, Fuller, Hervey, and Dr. Doddridge, 439--443. His
Sermons, 443. His Contemplations and Meditations, 442--444. Hi
otber pieces, 446--448. "
Hart, Mrs. 20. Her death, 420. buried in Heigham church, ib.
Inscription on her tomb stone, 421.
HALr, Dr. Robert, 21, 371.
Hall, Dr. George, 21, 871. preaches before the Corporation of the Sons
of the Clergy, 383. Extract from his sermon, 384, 385.
Harris, his character of Archbishop Usher, 888.
Henry, Prince, his death and character, 58.
Heylin, Dr. quoted, 233.
High Commission Court, account of, 243.
INDEX. ^. 09
Heuse of Lords, voted useless, 851.
Hervey, Rev. James, 441.
Horne, Bishop, his sermon on King Charles I. 351, note.
Impeachment of thirteen bishops, 246. their names, i.
Independents, account of, 319.
Instrument of government, 309. .
Instructions of the king to the divines sent to the Synod of Dort. 75--77.
Insurrection in Ireland, 263.
Interregnum in the church, 320.
JAMBS I. his death, 98. his funeral sermon, 100--104.
John, St. chapel, Clerkenwell, account of, 105, note.
Kennet, Bishop, his testimony to the liberality of Cromwell, 372.
King, (CHARLES I.) his speech, 168. his jonrney to Scotland, 255. His
attachment to the church, 261, 263, 268, 269, collates bishops to the
vacant Sees, and translates others, 261, 262. impeaches five members
of the commons, 289. a wrong step, 290. sets up his standard at
. Nottingham, 291. retires to York, 305. is persuaded to give his assent
to the bill for taking away the bishops' votes, 285. sad effects of it, ib.
286, 287. delivers himself up to the Scots, 332. disputes with Hen-
derson, 983. is given up to the parliament, 934. is conveyed to
Holmby house, $38. is taken by force to the army at Newmarket, 340.
eseapes, 841. secured in Carisbrook castle, ib. conveyed to Hurst
castle, 350. is murdered, 351. 007
Kirk discipline advanced into a divine right, 238.
Lambeth palace attacked by the mob, 169.
Lands of bishops, deans, and chapters, sold, 360. amount of the money,
961, note. "E zm
Latin sermon of Bishop Hall before the Synod of Dort, in Appendix, 476.
Laud, Archbishop, patronises Montague, 97. disapproves of lectures,
126. His intolerancy, 126. Chief promoter of the Book of Sports,
181, 139. Voted to the Tower, 191. His catastrophe, 825, 862. His
character, 326, 327. His munificence, 828. tote
Lecturers, disaffected, appointed, 257.
Leighton, Dr. Alex. 194.
Letter of Bishop Hall to Faller about the Synod of Dort, 80--83.
Letters of Bishop Hall to Archbishop Usher, in Appendix, 461.
Lilly, opponent of Bishop Hall, account of, 18, note.
Liturgy, abused, 196. Debates about in parliament, 255. disused, 9329.
king's proclamation for its continuance, 324.
Long parliament, 186.
Mant's, Dr. Bible, 413.
Maternal instruction, benefit of, 5, note.
Milton, employed to write in defence of commonwealth, 359.
Minister's petition, 213, 220. ]
Montague's New Gag, &c. 96. his appeal, 97. his writings examined
* before parliament, 106. 07
Neal, an invidious remark of his, 263, a probable mistake of his, 272.
another, 280.
080 INDEX.
Negative Oath, 414, note.
Newport, treaty‘of, 345, 349.
Oath at the Synod of Dort, 79,81. in 6th Canon, explained by Bishop
Hall, 181. Difficulties of enforcing it, 182. Petitions against it, 183.
Synodical, Bishop Hall’s moderation respecting it, 184.
Officers of the Army, preach, 830.
Opinions, false, multiplied, 354, 355. Bishop Hall’s remarks upon, ib.
Ordinance, most cruel, of parliament, against sects-and heretics, 344, 345.
Osbaldeston, 151.
Oxford, visitation of, by the disloyalists, 344.
Pamphlets, seditious and scurrilous against the charch, 200. ,
Papists, their opinions and wishes respecting Bishop Hall’s writings in
defence of episcopacy, 210, note. procee@ed against, 238, 239.
Parliament, long, strictly urged the due observance of the sabbath, 145.
sitting on a sunday, 254. Their declaration for the reformation - of
government and liturgy, 305, 306.
Parties, in religion and pelitics, a warning to future ages, 308.
Pearson, bishop, 372.
. Petitions, 188. described by Dugdale, ib. note. Of “the city dames"
against the bishops' votes, 271. Of the porters of London, against
episcopacy, 214. Of the apprentices, 214, 271, 272. Root and Branch,
218. in favour of the church, 213. rejected, 214. Their substance,
218, 220, 283. Of the suffering clergy to the king, 342. His Majesty's
reply,. ib ^ to Sir Thomas Fairfax, ib. Of the presbyterian, ministers
against the loyal clergy, 843.
Petitionary remonstrance of the loyal clergy to Cromwell, 381.
Popery, gaining ground, 96. —
Porters, of London, petition against episcopacy, as too heavy a load, 214.
Pratt’s, Rev. Josiah, edition of Bishop Hall's Works, 448. |
Prayer, extemporary, 207--209. |
Press, placed under the direction of parliament, 361.
Presbyterianism, its oppression, 824, the established religion, 876.
Presbyterian model, adopted, 818. advanced into jus divinum, ib.
ministers refuse the engagement, 359.
Presbyterians, suffering of the, from the independents, 353.
Protestation, entered upon, 239. disapproved by Earl of Southampton
and Lord Roberts, 240. Bill to compel all to subscribe it, ib. re-
jected by the peers, ib. Of the bishops, 275. presented to the king,
278. its irregularity, i+. 280.
Prynnc, Wm. his Histriemastix, 147, 148, 149, 193.
Pulpits, sounding with faction, and fanaticism, 198.
Puritans, their intemperate practices, 147. many of them tools of par-
liament, 199. '
Puritanism, described, 449--458.
Pym, Mr. 239, 273.
Quakers, their origin, 362, 863.
Rapin, an error of his, 237.
Religion, unsettled state of, 257, $54, 356. Bishop Hall’s remarks, ib.
Remonstrance, of the state of the nation, 264,265. His Majesty's reply,
266--268. .
Repartee, of Grimstone and Selden, 217, note.
Richardson, Lord Chief Justice, 129, 130.
INDEX. 081
Root and Branch petition, 212, 214.
Rump Parliament, 853, note.
Sabbath, morality of, controverted, 144.
Sanderson, Dr. remarks upon the oath in 6th canon, 182.
Sects, springing up, 37. increasing, 98.
Scott’s, Rev. Thomas, Bible, 413. .
Scots, aid of, called in, 317.
Smectymnuus, reply to * Humble Remonstrance," 205.
Smith, the Brownist, extravagant notions of, 55.
Solemn league and covenant, 311. mode of taking it, described by Dr.
Walker, 312. King's proclamation against it, 313. tendered to the
University of Cambridge, 314. to the king, 333. to Oxford, 344.
Songs in the Night, occasioned by the death of Mrs. Hall, extract from,
421--424.
Spalato, Archbishop of, 63.
Speeches, of Lords Digby and Falkland, 216.
Steward, Dr. 170.
Sufferings, extreme, of the clergy, 853, 877, 378. Dr. Walker's remarks
upon, 379, 380. Neal and Harris’ remarks, id.
. Sunday, profaned by revels and royal masquerade, 141.
Sports, see under Book of, remarks upon, 71,73.
Strafford, Earl of, impeached, 241. beheaded, 242.
Star chamber, description of, 244, note.
Sterne, his plagiarisms, 448.
Sutton, Thomas, Esq. 47.
Struthers, Mr. 68.
Synod of Dort, 78--90.
Tiverton, school, 15.
Toleration, to all heresies, errors, &c. 370. denied to popery and prelacy, ib.
Travels of Bishop Hall, account of, 31, 40.
Triers, 875.
Turner, Dr. his sermon before convocation, 170.
Usher, Archbishop, expelled from the Assembly of Divines for his loyalty,
811. endeavours to prevail on Cromwell to relent his cruel oppression
of the clergy, 881. succeeds not. very much hurt at Cromwell's con-
uct, 382. .
Uxbridge, treaty of, 329.
Via Media, 92, 93, 108, 109, 111.
Waltham, church of, account of, 44.
War, with Scotland, 168, 184, 185. civil begin, 307.
Warminstre, his motion against the canons, 191.
Warner, Dr. quoted, 196.
Williams, Dr. Archbishop of York, ill treated by Laud, 150. his funeral
sermon on James I. 100--114. Attacking one of the rabble, 274.
Wren, Dr. Matthew, 194, 195.
Wilks' Christian Essays, quoted, 357.
Winniffe, Miss, afterwards Mrs. Hall, 20. Mr. George, ib.
W hitefoot’s funeral sermon on Bishop Hall, in Appendix.
Worcester, battle of, 364.
Wotton, Sir H. 439.
ERRATA,
. Page 198, line 11 from the top, for ** manifests,” read manifested.
217, note, for ** Seldon,” read Selden.
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